World record progression 4x100 metres freestyle relay

Below is the world record progression for the 4×100 metres freestyle relay swimming event. Long course (50 metres) swimming records were recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.

The women's event was first contested at 1912 Olympics, but the men's didn't appear until the 1964 Tokyo Games. Prior to this the longer 4×200 metres freestyle event was the only male relay event staged.

Men

Long course

#	Time		Name	Nationality	Date	Meet	Location	Ref
1	4:10.2		Kiss ! Zoltán Kiss Gyula Dienes Árpád Lengyel Ferenc Csik	Hungary	01937-06-26 26 June 1937	-	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary
2	4:06.6		Zolyomi ! Gyula Zolyomi Istvan Korosi Ödön Gróf Ferenc Csik	Hungary	01937-08-15 15 August 1937	-	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary
3	4:03.6		Heibel ! Hermann Heibel Hans Freese Edward Askamp Helmuth Fischer	Germany	01938-03-05 5 March 1938	-	Germany, Bremen ! Bremen, Germany
4	4:02.4		Wille ! Otto Wille Werner Birr Werner Plath Kurt von Eckenbrecher	Germany	01938-04-01 1 April 1938	-	Denmark, Copenhagen ! Copenhagen, Denmark
5	4:02.0		Zolyomi ! Gyula Zolyomi Ferenc Csik Istvan Korosi Ödön Gróf	Hungary	01938-07-14 14 July 1938	-	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary
6	3:59.2		Hirose ! Takashi Hirose Otto Jaretz Paul Wolf Peter Fick	United States	01938-08-20 20 August 1938	-	Germany, Berlin ! Berlin, Germany
7	3:54.4		Sanburn ! Willis Sanburn Edward Pope Russell Duncan Howard Johnson	United States	01940-03-08 8 March 1940	-	United States, New Haven, CT ! New Haven, CT, United States
8	3:50.8		Johnson ! Howard Johnson Richard Kelly Edward Pope Frank Lilley	United States	01942-03-18 18 March 1942	-	United States, New Haven, CT ! New Haven, CT, United States
9	3:48.6		Ford ! Alan Ford Edward Hueber Frank Dooley Howard Johnson	United States	01948-06-29 29 June 1948	-	United States, New Haven, CT ! New Haven, CT, United States
10	3:47.9		Thoman ! Dick Thoman Donald Sheff William Farnsworth Ray Reid	United States	01951-03-19 19 March 1951	-	United States, New Haven, CT ! New Haven, CT, United States
11	3:46.8		Suzuki ! Hiroshi Suzuki Atsushi Tani Toru Goto Manabu Koga	Japan	01955-08-06 6 August 1955	-	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
12	3:46.3		Chapman ! Gary Chapman John Konrads Geoff Shipton John Devitt	Australia	01958-05-03 3 May 1958	-	Australia, Brisbane ! Brisbane, Australia
13	3:44.4		Follett ! Elton Follett Lance Larson Jeff Farrell Joe Alkire	United States	01959-07-21 21 July 1959	-	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
14	3:42.5		Gottvalles ! Alain Gottvallès Gerard Gropaiz Jean-Pierre Curtillet Robert Christophe	France	01962-08-10 10 August 1962	-	France, Thionville ! Thionville, France
15	3:39.9		Clark ! Stephen Clark N. Schoenman Don Schollander Robert Townsend	United States	01963-07-04 4 July 1963	-	United States, Los Altos, CA ! Los Altos, CA, United States
16	3:36.1		Clark ! Stephen Clark Richard McDonough Gary Ilman Robert Townsend	United States	01963-08-18 18 August 1963	-	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
17	3:33.2		Clark !  (52.9 =WR) Stephen Clark Michael Austin Gary Ilman Don Schollander	United States	01964-10-14 14 October 1964	-	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
18	3:32.6		Walsh ! Ken Walsh Zac Zorn Don Havens Greg Charlton	United States	01967-08-28 28 August 1967	-	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
19	3:32.5		Zorn !  (53.0) Zac Zorn  (53.0) Stephen Rerych  (53.4) Ken Walsh  (53.1) Don Schollander	United States	01968-09-03 3 September 1968	US Olympic Swimming Trials	United States, Long Beach, CA ! Long Beach, CA, United States
20	3:31.7		Zorn !  (53.4) Zac Zorn  (52.8) Stephen Rerych  (52.7) Mark Spitz  (52.8) Ken Walsh	United States	01968-10-17 17 October 1968	Olympic Games	Mexico, Mexico City ! Mexico City, Mexico
21	3:28.8		Havens ! Don Havens Mike Weston Bill Frawley Frank Heckl	United States	01970-08-23 23 August 1970	AAU Nationals	United States, Los Angeles, CA ! Los Angeles, CA, United States
22	3:28.84		Fairbank !  (52.61) Dave Fairbank  (51.69) Gary Conelly  (51.89) Jerry Heidenreich  (52.63) David Edgar	United States	01972-08-28 28 August 1972	Olympic Games	West Germany, Munich ! Munich, West Germany
23	3:26.42		Edgar !  (52.69) David Edgar  (52.04) John Murphy  (50.78) Jerry Heidenreich  (50.90) Mark Spitz	United States	01972-08-28 28 August 1972	Olympic Games	West Germany, Munich ! Munich, West Germany
24	3:25.17		Bottom ! Joseph Bottom Jim Montgomery Andy Coan Charles Hickcox	United States	01974-09-01 1 September 1974	USA-GDR Duel	United States, Concord, CA ! Concord, CA, United States
25	3:24.85		Furniss !  (51.82) Bruce Furniss  (50.53) Jim Montgomery  (50.61) Andy Coan  (51.89) John Murphy	United States	01975-07-25 25 July 1975	World Championships	Colombia, Cali ! Cali, Colombia
26	3:21.11		Babashoff !  (50.31) Jack Babashoff  (50.45) Joseph Bottom  (50.40) Rick DeMont  (49.95) Jim Montgomery	United States	01977-08-28 28 August 1977	USA-GDR Duel	East Germany, East Berlin ! East Berlin, East Germany
27	3:19.74		Babashoff !  (51.30) Jack Babashoff  (49.52) Rowdy Gaines  (49.66) Jim Montgomery  (49.26) David McCagg	United States	01978-08-22 22 August 1978	World Championships	West Germany, West Berlin ! West Berlin, West Germany
28	3:19.26		Cavanaugh !  (50.13) Chris Cavanaugh  (50.10) Robin Leamy  (49.89) David McCagg  (49.14) Rowdy Gaines	United States	01982-08-05 5 August 1982	World Championships	Ecuador, Guayaquil ! Guayaquil, Ecuador
29	3:19.03		Cavanaugh !  (50.83) Chris Cavanaugh  (49.60) Michael Heath  (49.67) Matt Biondi  (48.93) Rowdy Gaines	United States	01984-08-02 2 August 1984	Olympic Games	United States, Los Angeles, CA ! Los Angeles, CA, United States
30	3:17.08		McAdam !  (50.08) Scott McAdam  (49.51) Paul Wallace  (49.83) Michael Heath  (47.66) Matt Biondi	United States	01985-08-17 17 August 1985	1985 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
31	3:16.53		Jacobs !  (49.63) Chris Jacobs  (49.75) Troy Dalbey  (49.34) Tom Jager  (47.81) Matt Biondi	United States	01988-09-23 23 September 1988	Olympic Games	South Korea, Seoul ! Seoul, South Korea
32	3:15.11		Fox !  (49.32) David Fox  (49.11) Joe Hudepohl  (48.17) Jon Olsen  (48.51) Gary Hall, Jr.	United States	01995-08-12 12 August 1995	1995 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships	United States, Atlanta, GA ! Atlanta, GA, United States
33	3:13.67		Klim !  (48.18 WR) Michael Klim  (48.48) Chris Fydler  (48.71) Ashley Callus  (48.30) Ian Thorpe	Australia	02000-09-16 16 September 2000	Olympic Games	Australia, Sydney ! Sydney, Australia
34	3:13.17		Schoeman !  (48.17) Roland Schoeman  (48.13) Lyndon Ferns  (48.96) Darian Townsend  (47.91) Ryk Neethling	South Africa	02004-08-15 15 August 2004	Olympic Games	Greece, Athens ! Athens, Greece
35	3:12.46		Phelps !  (48.83) Michael Phelps  (47.89) Neil Walker  (47.96) Cullen Jones  (47.78) Jason Lezak	United States	02006-08-19 19 August 2006	Pan Pacific Championships	Canada, Victoria, British Columbia ! Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
36	3:12.23	(h)	Adrian !  (48.82) Nathan Adrian  (47.61) Cullen Jones  (48.03) Ben Wildman-Tobriner  (47.77) Matthew Grevers	United States	02008-08-10 10 August 2008	Olympic Games	China, Beijing ! Beijing, China
37	3:08.24		Phelps !  (47.51) Michael Phelps  (47.02) Garrett Weber-Gale  (47.65) Cullen Jones  (46.06) Jason Lezak	United States	02008-08-11 11 August 2008	Olympic Games	China, Beijing ! Beijing, China

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA; (yd) – set in a pool measured in yards;
Records not set in finals: (h) – heat; (sf) – semifinal; (r) – relay 1st leg; (rh) – relay heat 1st leg; (b) – B final; † – en route to final mark; (tt) – time trial

Short course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Place
3:12.11	Brazil Fernando Scherer (-) Teófilo Ferreira (-) Gustavo Borges (-) José Carlos Souza (-)	December 5, 1993	Palma de Mallorca, Spain
3:10.45	Brazil Fernando Scherer (-) Carlos Jayme (-) Alexandre Massura (-) Gustavo Borges (-)	December 20, 1998	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3:09.57	Sweden Johan Nyström (49.04) Lars Frölander (45.69) Mattias Ohlin (47.87) Stefan Nystrand (46.97)	March 16, 2000	Athens, Greece
3:08.44	United States Ryan Lochte (47.09) Bryan Lundquist (46.64) Nathan Adrian (46.57) Doug Van Wie (48.14)	April 9, 2008	Manchester, United Kingdom
3:04.98	CN Marseille Grégory Mallet (47.41) Fabien Gilot (44.92) William Meynard (47.65) Frédérick Bousquet (45.00)	December 20, 2008	Istres, France
3:03.30	United States Nathan Adrian (45.08) Matt Grevers (44.68) Garrett Weber-Gale (47.43) Michael Phelps (46.11)	December 19, 2009	Manchester, United Kingdom

Women

Long course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Place
5:52.8	United Kingdom Belle Moore (?) Jennie Fletcher (?) Annie Speirs (?) Irene Steer (?)	July 15, 1912	Stockholm, Sweden
5:11.6	United States Margaret Woodbridge (?) Frances Schroth (?) Irene Guest (?) Ethelda Bleibtrey (?)	August 29, 1920	Antwerp, Belgium
4:58.8	United States Gertrude Ederle (?) Euphrasia Donnelly (?) Ethel Lackie (?) Mariechen Wehselau (?)	July 20, 1924	Paris, France
4:55.6	United States Adelaide Lambert (?) Josephine McKim (?) Susan Laird (?) Albina Osipowich (?)	August 9, 1928	Amsterdam, Netherlands
4:47.6	United States Adelaide Lambert (?) Eleanor Garatti (?) Albina Osipowich (?) Martha Norelius (?)	August 9, 1928	Amsterdam, Netherlands
4:38.0	United States Josephine McKim (?) Helen Johns (?) Eleanor Garatti (?) Helene Madison (?)	August 12, 1932	Los Angeles, United States
4:33.3	Netherlands Jopie Selbach (?) Annie Timmermans (?) Rie Mastenbroek (?) Willy den Ouden (?)	April 14, 1934	Rotterdam, Netherlands
4:32.8	Netherlands Jopie Selbach (?) Rie Mastenbroek (?) Catherina Wagner (?) Willy den Ouden (?)	May 24, 1936	Rotterdam, Netherlands
4:29.7	Denmark Elvi Svendsen (?) Gunvor Kraft (?) Birte Ove-Petersen (?) Ragnhild Hveger (?)	February 8, 1938	Copenhagen, Denmark
4:27.6	Denmark Eva Arndt (?) Gunvor Kraft (?) Birte Ove-Petersen (?) Ragnhild Hveger (?)	August 7, 1938	Copenhagen, Denmark
4:27.2	Hungary Mária Littomericzky (?) Éva Novák (?) Éva Székely (?) Katalin Szőke (?)	April 27, 1952	Moscow, Soviet Union
4:24.4	Hungary Ilona Novák (1:07.8) Judit Temes (1:05.8) Éva Novák (1:05.1) Katalin Szőke (1:05.7)	August 1, 1952	Helsinki, Finland
4:22.3	Australia Lorraine Crapp (?) Dawn Fraser (?) Margaret Gibson (?) Barbara Jackson (?)	October 20, 1956	Sydney, Australia
4:19.7	Australia Lorraine Crapp (?) Dawn Fraser (?) Faith Leech (?) Margaret Gibson (?)	October 25, 1956	Melbourne, Australia
4:17.1	Australia Dawn Fraser (?) Faith Leech (?) Sandra Morgan (?) Lorraine Crapp (1:03.1)	December 6, 1956	Melbourne, Australia
4:16.2	Australia Dawn Fraser (?) Alva Colquhoun (?) Ilsa Konrads (?) Lorraine Crapp (?)	August 6, 1960	Townsville, Australia
4:08.9	United States Joan Spillane (?) Shirley Stobs (?) Carolyn Wood (?) Chris von Saltza (?)	September 3, 1960	Rome, Italy
4:08.5	Santa Clara Swim Club Terri Stickles (?) Donna de Varona (?) Pokey Watson (?) Judy Haroun (?)	July 31, 1964	Los Altos, United States
4:07.6	United States Lynne Allsup (?) Terri Stickles (?) Kathy Seidel (?) Eleanor Bricker (?)	September 28, 1964	Los Angeles, United States
4:03.8	United States Sharon Stouder (?) Donna de Varona (?) Pokey Watson (?) Kathy Ellis (?)	October 15, 1964	Tokyo, Japan
4:03.5	Santa Clara Swim Club Linda Gustavson (?) Nancy Ryan (?) Laura Fritz (?) Pokey Watson (?)	August 19, 1967	Philadelphia, United States
4:01.1	Santa Clara Swim Club Linda Gustavson (?) Pokey Watson (?) Pam Carpinelli (?) Jan Henne (?)	July 6, 1968	Santa Clara, United States
4:00.8	East Germany Gabriele Wetzko (?) Iris Komor (?) Elke Sehmisch (?) Carola Schulze (?)	September 11, 1970	Barcelona, Spain
4:00.7	United States Shirley Babashoff (?) Kim Peyton (?) Linda Johnson (?) Deena Deardurff (?)	September 9, 1971	Minsk, Soviet Union
3:58.11	United States Kim Peyton (?) Sandra Neilson (?) Jane Barkman (?) Shirley Babashoff (?)	August 18, 1972	Knoxville, United States
3:58.11	East Germany Sylvia Eichner (?) Elke Sehmisch (?) Andrea Eife (?) Kornelia Ender (?)	August 30, 1972	Munich, West Germany
3:55.19	United States Sandra Neilson (?) Jennifer Kemp (?) Jane Barkman (?) Shirley Babashoff (?)	August 30, 1972	Munich, West Germany
3:52.45	East Germany Andrea Eife (?) Andrea Hubner (?) Sylvia Eichner (?) Kornelia Ender (?)	September 8, 1973	Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia
3:51.99	United States Ann Marshall (?) Kim Peyton (?) Kathy Heddy (?) Shirley Babashoff (?)	August 31, 1974	Concord, United States
3:49.37	East Germany Kornelia Ender (56.22 WR) Barbara Krause (57.41) Claudia Hempel (57.97) Ute Bruckner (57.77)	July 26, 1975	Cali, Colombia
3:48.80	SC Dynamo Berlin Rosemarie Kother (?) Andrea Pollack (?) Monika Seltmann (?) Barbara Krause (?)	June 2, 1976	East Berlin, East Germany
3:44.82	United States Kim Peyton (56.95) Wendy Boglioli (55.81) Jill Sterkel (55.78) Shirley Babashoff (56.28)	July 25, 1976	Montreal, Canada
3:43.43	United States Tracy Caulkins (56.57) Stephanie Elkins (55.92) Jill Sterkel (55.70) Cynthia Woodhead (55.24)	August 26, 1978	West Berlin, West Germany
3:42.71	East Germany Barbara Krause (54.90) Caren Metschuck (55.61) Ines Diers (55.90) Sarina Hülsenbeck (56.30)	July 27, 1980	Moscow, Soviet Union
3:42.41	East Germany Birgit Meineke (?) Kristin Otto (?) Karen König (?) Heike Friedrich (?)	August 21, 1984	Moscow, Soviet Union
3:40.57	East Germany Kristin Otto (54.73 WR) Manuela Stellmach (54.96) Sabina Schulze (55.52) Heike Friedrich (55.36)	August 19, 1986	Madrid, Spain
3:39.46	United States Nicole Haislett (55.33) Dara Torres (55.33) Angel Martino (54.79) Jenny Thompson (54.01)	July 28, 1992	Barcelona, Spain
3:37.91	China Le Jingyi (54.31) Shan Ying (54.38) Le Ying (55.09) Lü Bin (54.13)	September 7, 1994	Rome, Italy
3:36.61	United States Amy van Dyken (55.08) Dara Torres (53.51) Courtney Shealy (54.40) Jenny Thompson (53.62)	September 16, 2000	Sydney, Australia
3:36.00	Germany Katrin Meißner (54.82) Petra Dallmann (53.95) Sandra Völker (53.59) Franziska van Almsick (53.64)	July 29, 2002	Berlin, Germany
3:35.94	Australia Alice Mills (54.75) Libby Lenton (53.57) Petria Thomas (54.67) Jodie Henry (52.95)	August 14, 2004	Athens, Greece
3:35.22	Germany Petra Dallmann (54.53) Daniela Götz (53.87) Britta Steffen (52.66) Annika Liebs (54.16)	July 31, 2006	Budapest, Hungary
3:33.62	Netherlands Inge Dekker (53.77) Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.61) Femke Heemskerk (53.62) Marleen Veldhuis (52.62)	March 18, 2008	Eindhoven, Netherlands
3:31.72	Netherlands Inge Dekker (53.61) Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.30) Femke Heemskerk (53.03) Marleen Veldhuis (52.78)	July 26, 2009	Rome, Italy

Short course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Place
3:35.97	China Lü Bin (-) Shan Ying (-) Jia Yuanyuan (-) Le Jingyi (-)	December 4, 1993	Palma de Mallorca, Spain
3:34.55	China Le Jingyi (53.32) Chao Na (54.33) Shan Ying (53.55) Nian Yin (52.55)	April 19, 1997	Gothenburg, Sweden
3:33.32	Netherlands Inge Dekker (53.52) Hinkelien Schreuder (53.63) Chantal Groot (54.00) Marleen Veldhuis (52.17)	April 8, 2006	Shanghai, People's Republic of China
3:31.66	Australia Libby Lenton (51.91) Melanie Schlanger (53.23) Shayne Reese (53.27) Alice Mills (53.25)	September 2, 2007	Melbourne, Australia
3:30.85	Netherlands Hinkelien Schreuder (53.40) Femke Heemskerk (52.95) Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.97) Marleen Veldhuis (51.53)	September 9, 2007	Eindhoven, Netherlands
3:29.42	Netherlands Hinkelien Schreuder (53.62) Femke Heemskerk (52.61) Inge Dekker (51.76) Marleen Veldhuis (51.43)	April 12, 2008	Manchester, United Kingdom
3:28.22	Netherlands Hinkelien Schreuder (52.88) Inge Dekker (52.24) Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.12) Marleen Veldhuis (50.98)	December 19, 2008	Amsterdam, Netherlands

References

• Men's Event (long course) world progression at www.olympic.org
• Women's Event (long course) world progression at www.olympic.org