World record progression 4 × 50 metres freestyle relay


This article includes the world record progression for the 4×50 metres freestyle relay and it shows the chronological history of world record times in that competitive short course swimming event. The 4×50 metres freestyle relay is a relay event in which each of four swimmers on a team swims a 50-metre freestyle leg in sequence. The world records are recognized by and maintained by FINA, the international competitive swimming and aquatics federation that overseas the sport in international competition.
World records in swimming were first recognized by FINA in 1908. The long course world records are historically older than the short course records. FINA amended its regulations governing the recognition of world records in 1956; specifically, FINA mandated that only record times that were contested in 50-metre pools were eligible for recognition after that time. The short-course world records have been separately recognized since 1991. On 25 July 2013 FINA Technical Swimming Congress voted to allow world records in the long course mixed 400 free relay and mixed 400 medley relay, as well as in six events in short course meters: the mixed 200 medley and 200 free relays, as well as the men's and women's 200 free relays and the men's and women's 200 medley relays. In October 2013 FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first world record in these events. But later, on 13 March 2014, FINA officially ratified the eight world records set by Indiana University swimmers at the IU Relay Rally held on 26 September 2013 in Bloomington.

Men

Women

Mixed

All-time top 10 by country

Men

PosTimeSwimmerNationalityDateVenue
11:20.77France14 Dec 2008Croatia
21:21.80United States14 Dec 2018China
31:22.22Russia14 Dec 2018China
41:22.90Italy14 Dec 2018China
51:23.68Croatia14 Dec 2008Croatia
61:23.74Poland4 Dec 2019Scotland
71:23.92Australia14 Dec 2018China
81:24.14South Africa14 Dec 2018China
91:24.19Sweden16 Dec 2007Hungary
101:24.31Germany13 Dec 2009Turkey

Women

PosTimeSwimmerNationalityDateVenue
11:33.25Netherlands11 Dec 2009Turkey
21:34.03United States16 Dec 2018China
31:35.00Canada11 Dec 2016Canada
41:35.21France6 Dec 2019Scotland
51:35.24Denmark6 Dec 2019Scotland
61:35.46Sweden11 Dec 2009Turkey
71:35.61Italy11 Dec 2016Canada
81:35.99Russia6 Dec 2019Scotland
91:36.18Great Britain6 Dec 2019Scotland
101:36.34Australia16 Dec 2018China