The South African records in swimming in Swimming are the fastest times ever swum by a swimmer representing South Africa. These records are kept/maintained by South Africa's national swimming federation: Swimming South Africa (SSA). Records are recognized for long course (50m) and short course (25m) events:
All records were set in finals unless noted otherwise.
| Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m freestyle | 21.67 | =, AF | Roland Schoeman | 16 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | ||
| 50 m freestyle | 21.67 | =, sf, AF | Roland Schoeman | 2 August 2013 | World Championships | Barcelona, Spain | [1] | |
| 100 m freestyle | 47.79 | h, AF | Lyndon Ferns | 29 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [2] | |
| 200 m freestyle | 1:45.20 | AF | Chad le Clos | 8 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [3] | |
| 400 m freestyle | 3:45.92 | h | Myles Brown | 6 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [4] | |
| 800 m freestyle | 7:53.97 | Myles Brown | KZNA-KZ | 13 April 2015 | South African Championships | Durban, South Africa | [5] | |
| 1500 m freestyle | 14:57.88 | Heerden Herman | MATI | 10 December 2010 | League WP Sasko Championships | South Africa | [6] | |
| 50 m backstroke | 24.17 | AF | Pieter Coetze | 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [7] | |
| 100 m backstroke | 51.85 | AF, CR | Pieter Coetze | 29 July 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [8] | |
| 200 m backstroke | 1:53.36 | AF | Pieter Coetze | 1 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [9] | |
| 50 m breaststroke | 26.54 | h, AF | Cameron van der Burgh | 25 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [10] | |
| 100 m breaststroke | 58.46 | AF | Cameron van der Burgh | 29 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [11] [12] | |
| 200 m breaststroke | 2:09.61 | sf, AF | Neil Versfeld | 30 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [13] | |
| 50m butterfly | 22.90 | h | Roland Schoeman | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [14] | |
| 100m butterfly | 50.56 | AF | Chad le Clos | 8 August 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia | [15] | |
| 200m butterfly | 1:52.96 | AF | Chad le Clos | 31 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [16] | |
| 200m individual medley | 1:57.03 | sf, AF | Darian Townsend | Lagardère Paris Racing | 25 April 2009 | French Championships | Montpellier, France | [17] |
| 400m individual medley | 4:11.11 | Sebastien Rousseau | 1 August 2013 | US Open | Irvine, United States | [18] | ||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:28.78 |
| 2 April 2003 | - | ||||
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:11.93 | AF |
| 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [19] | |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 7:08.01 | h, AF |
| 31 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [20] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:31.53 | AF |
| 2 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [21] |
| Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 24.64 | sf | Emma Chelius | 31 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [22] | |
| 100m freestyle | 54.23 | AF | Erin Gallagher | 9 April 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | [23] | |
| 200m freestyle | 1:56.80 | r, AF | Aimee Canny | Western Cape Aquatics | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [24] |
| 400m freestyle | 4:07.92 | Karin Prinsloo | 31 January 2014 | Aquatic Super Series | Perth, Australia | [25] | ||
| 800m freestyle | 8:25.71 | Wendy Trott | 14 June 2012 | Trofeo Sette Colli | Rome, Italy | |||
| 1500m freestyle | 16:05.63 | h, AF | Wendy Trott | 25 July 2011 | World Championships | Shanghai, China | [26] | |
| 50m backstroke | 27.91 | AF | Olivia Nel | 22 July 2025 | World University Games | Berlin, Germany | [27] | |
| 100m backstroke | 1:00.33 | rh | Olivia Nel | 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [28] | |
| 200m backstroke | 2:10.03 | Melissa Corfe | KwaZulu-Natal | 3 April 2008 | South African Championships | Durban, South Africa | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 29.72 | h, AF, CR | Lara van Niekerk | Pretoria Aquatic Club | 6 April 2022 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [29] [30] |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:04.82 | h, AF, CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | 25 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [31] | |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:18.95 | AF, CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | 30 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [32] | |
| 50m butterfly | 25.39 | sf | Erin Gallagher | 1 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [33] | |
| 100m butterfly | 57.32 | AF | Erin Gallagher | Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [34] |
| 200m butterfly | 2:09.41 | h, AF | Kathryn Meaklim | 12 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | ||
| 200m individual medley | 2:10.39 | Rebecca Meder | KwaZulu Natal | 10 April 2025 | South African Championships | Gqeberha, South Africa | [35] | |
| 400m individual medley | 4:37.11 | h | Kathryn Meaklim | 9 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | ||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:45.66 |
| Tuks | 10 April 2014 | South African Championships | South Africa | ||
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:40.29 | AF, not ratified |
| KwaZulu Natal | 10 April 2021 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [36] |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 8:01.56 | h, AF |
| 28 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [37] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:59.47 | h, AF |
| 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [28] |
| Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×100 m freestyle relay | 3:28.51 |
| 21 July 2025 | World University Games | Berlin, Germany | [38] | ||
| 4×100 m medley relay | 3:49.90 | h, AF |
| 24 July 2019 | World Championships | Gwangju, South Korea | [39] | |
| 4×100 m medley relay | 3:44.38 | AF, not ratified |
| 2 August 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | [40] |
| Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 20.30 | AF | Roland Schoeman | TuksSwimming | 8 August 2009 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 100m freestyle | 45.78 | AF | Chad le Clos | 6 August 2017 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [41] | |
| 200m freestyle | 1:40.65 | AF, not ratified | Matthew Sates | 3 October 2021 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [42] | |
| 400m freestyle | 3:36.30 | AF | Matthew Sates | 21 October 2022 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [43] | |
| 800m freestyle | 7:44.10 | Ryk Neethling | Arizona | 25 March 2000 | NCAA Division I Championships | Minneapolis, United States | ||
| 800m freestyle | 7:43.56 | '#' | Kris Mihaylov | Boksburg | 27 September 2024 | South African Championships | Durban, South Africa | [ citation needed ] |
| 1500m freestyle | 14:30.54 | Myles Brown | 8 August 2013 | World Cup | Eindhoven, Netherlands | [44] | ||
| 50m backstroke | 22.75 | AF | Pieter Coetze | 1 November 2024 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | [45] | |
| 100m backstroke | 49.35 | AF | Pieter Coetze | 20 October 2024 | World Cup | Shanghai, China | [46] | |
| 200m backstroke | 1:47.08 | AF | George Du Rand | 7 November 2009 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 25.25 | AF, CR | Cameron van der Burgh | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 100m breaststroke | 55.61 | AF | Cameron van der Burgh | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 200m breaststroke | 2:02.56 | AF | Neil Versfeld | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 50m butterfly | 21.87 | AF | Roland Schoeman | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 100m butterfly | 48.08 | AF, CR | Chad le Clos | 8 December 2016 | World Championships | Windsor, Canada | [47] | |
| 200m butterfly | 1:48.27 | AF | Chad le Clos | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [48] | |
| 100m individual medley | 51.05 | AF, CR | Gerhard Zandberg | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 200m individual medley | 1:50.15 | AF, CR | Matthew Sates | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [49] | |
| 400m individual medley | 3:59.21 | Matthew Sates | 17 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [50] | ||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:24.14 | AF |
| 14 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | [51] | |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:12.87 | h, AF |
| 3 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [52] | |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 6:52.13 | AF |
| 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [53] | |
| 4×50m medley relay | 1:34.31 | h, AF |
| 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [54] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:31.97 | h, AF |
| 16 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [55] |
| Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 24.14 | h, AF | Caitlin De Lange | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [56] | |
| 100m freestyle | 52.70 | sf, AF | Erin Gallagher | 12 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | [57] | |
| 200m freestyle | 1:54.13 | AF | Aimee Canny | University of Virginia | 18 October 2024 | Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet | Charlottesville, United States | [58] |
| 400m freestyle | 4:03.50 | AF | Melissa Corfe | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | ||
| 800m freestyle | 8:22.05 | AF | Jessica Pengelly | 4 November 2011 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | ||
| 1500m freestyle | 16:09.12 | AF | Stephanie Houtman | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [59] | |
| 50m backstroke | 26.85 | =AF | Jessica Thompson | Cardinal Aquatics | 26 September 2025 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [60] |
| 100m backstroke | 56.56 | AF | Chanelle Van Wyk | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | ||
| 200m backstroke | 2:05.01 | Mandy Loots | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |||
| 50m breaststroke | 29.09 | AF | Lara van Niekerk | 18 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [61] | |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:03.89 | AF | Tatjana Schoenmaker | Tuks | 25 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [62] |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:18.02 | AF | Tatjana Schoenmaker | Tuks | 26 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [63] |
| 50m butterfly | 25.54 | Tayla Lovemore | 16 November 2018 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | [64] | ||
| 100m butterfly | 56.52 | Lize-Mari Retief | 19 December 2007 | Vladimir Salnikov Cup | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |||
| 200m butterfly | 2:04.24 | AF | Mandy Loots | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | ||
| 100m individual medley | 58.46 | AF | Rebecca Meder | 16 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [65] | |
| 100m individual medley | 57.69 | sf, AF, # | Rebecca Meder | 12 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [66] | |
| 200m individual medley | 2:07.47 | h | Rebecca Meder | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [67] | |
| 200m individual medley | 2:05.56 | AF, # | Rebecca Meder | 12 October 2025 | World Cup | Carmel, United States | [68] | |
| 400m individual medley | 4:22.88 | AF, # | Katheryn Meaklim | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | ||
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:42.78 | h, AF |
| 7 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [69] | |
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:40.80 | h, AF, not ratified |
| 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [70] | |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:41.80 | h, AF |
| 15 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [71] | |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:41.57 | h, AF, not ratified |
| 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [72] | |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 8:02.49 | h, AF |
| 12 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [73] | |
| 4×50m medley relay | 1:52.16 | h, AF |
| 5 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [74] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 4:00.73 | AF |
| 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | [75] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:59.64 | h, AF, not ratified |
| 18 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [76] | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:57.68 | h, AF, # |
| 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [77] |
| Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×50 m freestyle relay | 1:33.19 | AF |
| 6 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [78] | |
| 4×50 m medley relay | 1:42.53 | h |
| 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [79] | |
| 4×50 m medley relay | 1:41.32 | h, AF, # |
| 11 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [80] | |
| 4×100 m medley relay | 3:37.71 | h, AF, # |
| 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [81] |