There are two different kinds of swimming records in the United States and certified by USA Swimming:
Note: The American records should not be confused with the Americas records, which are the fastest times ever swum by a swimmer representing any country of the Americas.
An asterisk (*) indicates that this record has been achieved since the latest USA Swimming records publication. A plus (+) indicates that this record also is the current world record.
| Event | American Record (50 m) | U.S. Open Record (50 m) |
|---|---|---|
| freestyle | ||
| 50 free | 23.91 [38] Kate Douglass (USA) 2024 World Championships February 18, 2024 / Doha, Qatar 23.91 [39] Gretchen Walsh (New York Athletic Club) 2025 USA Championships June 7, 2025 / Indianapolis, Indiana | 23.91 [39] Gretchen Walsh (New York Athletic Club) 2025 USA Championships June 7, 2025 / Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 100 free | 52.04 [40] Simone Manuel (USA) 2019 World Championships July 26, 2019 / Gwangju, South Korea | 52.43 [41] Torri Huske (Arlington Aquatic Club) 2025 USA Championships June 3, 2025 / Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 200 free | 1:53.61 [42] Allison Schmitt (USA) 2012 Olympic Games July 31, 2012 / London, UK | 1:54.13 [43] 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series March 3, 2023 / Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| 400 free | 3:56.46 [44] Katie Ledecky (USA) 2016 Olympic Games August 7, 2016 / Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 3:55.37 [45] 2025 U.S. Open December 4, 2025 / Austin, Texas |
| 800 free | 8:04.12+ [46] Katie Ledecky (Gator Swim Club) 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series May 3, 2025 / Fort Lauderdale, Florida | same |
| 1500 free | 15:20.48+ [47] Katie Ledecky (USA) 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series May 16, 2018 / Indianapolis, Indiana | same |
| backstroke | American Record (50 m) | U.S. Open Record (50 m) |
| 50 back | 26.97 [48] Katharine Berkoff (NC State Wolfpack) 2025 USA Championships June 5, 2025 / Indianapolis, Indiana | same |
| 100 back | 57.13+ [49] Regan Smith (Longhorn Aquatics) 2024 US Olympic Trials June 19, 2024 / Indianapolis, Indiana | same |
| 200 back | 2:03.35 [50] Regan Smith (USA) 2019 World Championships (sf) July 26, 2019 / Gwangju, South Korea | 2:03.80 [51] Regan Smith (Sun Devil) 2023 USA Championships June 28, 2023 / Indianapolis, Indiana |
| breaststroke | American Record (50 m) | U.S. Open Record (50 m) |
| 50 breast | 29.40 [52] Lilly King (USA) 2017 World Championships July 30, 2017 / Budapest, Hungary | 29.62 [53] Lilly King (Indiana University) 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series June 10, 2018 / Santa Clara, California |
| 100 breast | 1:04.13+ [54] Lilly King (USA) 2017 World Championships July 25, 2017 / Budapest, Hungary | 1:04.45 [55] Jessica Hardy (Trojan Swim Club) 2009 U.S. Open Championships August 7, 2009 / Federal Way, Washington |
| 200 breast | 2:18.50 [56] Kate Douglass (USA) 2025 World Championships August 1, 2025 / Singapore, Singapore | 2:19.30 [57] Kate Douglass (New York Aquatic Club) 2024 TYR Pro Swim Series January 13, 2024 / Knoxville, Tennessee |
| butterfly | American Record (50 m) | U.S. Open Record (50 m) |
| 50 fly | 24.66 [58] Gretchen Walsh (New York Athletic Club) 2025 USA Championships June 4, 2025 / Indianapolis, Indiana | same |
| 100 fly | 54.60+ [59] Gretchen Walsh (New York Athletic Club) 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series May 3, 2025 / Fort Lauderdale, Florida | same |
| 200 fly | 2:03.84 [60] Regan Smith (USA) 2024 Olympic Games August 1, 2024 / Paris, France | 2:02.62 [61] 2025 U.S. Open December 6, 2025 / Austin, Texas |
| individual medley | American Record (50 m) | U.S. Open Record (50 m) |
| 200 IM | 2:06.15 [62] Ariana Kukors (USA) 2009 World Championships July 27, 2009 / Rome, Italy | 2:06.79 [63] Kate Douglass (New York Aquatic Club) 2024 US Olympic Trials June 22, 2024 / Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 400 IM | 4:31.12 [64] Katie Hoff (North Baltimore) 2008 US Olympic Trials June 29, 2008 / Omaha, Nebraska | 4:26.98 [65] 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series March 7, 2025 / Westmont, Illinois |
| relays | American Record (50 m) | U.S. Open Record (50 m) |
| 400 free relay | 3:30.20 [66] USA Kate Douglass (52.98) Gretchen Walsh (52.55) Torri Huske (52.06) Simone Manuel (52.61) 2024 Olympic Games July 27, 2024 / Paris, France | 3:35.11 [67] USA Natalie Coughlin (54.25) Jessica Hardy (53.43) Amanda Weir (53.85) Dana Vollmer (53.58) 2010 Pan Pacific Championships August 21, 2010 / Irvine, California |
| 800 free relay | 7:40.01 [68] USA Claire Weinstein (1:54.83) Anna Peplowski (1:54.75) Erin Gemmell (1:56.72) Katie Ledecky (1:53.71) 2025 World Championships July 31, 2025 / Singapore, Singapore | 7:51.21 [69] USA Dana Vollmer (1:58.05) Morgan Scroggy (1:57.89) Katie Hoff (1:58.70) Allison Schmitt (1:56.57) 2010 Pan Pacific Championships August 20, 2010 / Irvine, California |
| 400 medley relay | 3:49.34+ [70] USA Regan Smith (57.57) Kate Douglass (1:04.27) Gretchen Walsh (54.98) Torri Huske (52.52) 2025 World Championships August 3, 2025 / Singapore, Singapore | 3:55.23 [71] USA Natalie Coughlin (59.85) Rebecca Soni (1:05.35) Dana Vollmer (56.91) Jessica Hardy (53.12) 2010 Pan Pacific Championships August 22, 2010 / Irvine, California |