As we reflect on the year in Masters swimming, 2025 stands out as a historic chapter filled with exceptional performances and record-breaking feats. With a total of 310 Masters World Records being broken, this past year we witnessed unprecedented achievements, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of participants from around the globe.

2025 Masters Swimming Record Breakdown:

• Individual SCM (Short Course Meters): 115
• Individual LCM (Long Course Meters): 115
• Relay LCM: 36
• Relay SCM: 44

Men set 74 records in various categories, while women achieved 41 records in individual events and 65 in relays. Mixed teams also contributed significantly, claiming 14 records in the 50m pool and 21 in the 25m pool.

Notable Achievements

Among the standout performances, Neutral Athlete Mikhail Vekovishchev shone brightly at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore. He set a Masters World Record in the Men's 50 Butterfly with a time of 23.15, a feat that would have qualified him for the semifinals at the elite 2025 World Aquatics Championships. An Olympic medallist (silver in the Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay from the Tokyo 2020 Games), three-time world medallist in 50m pool and a two-time relay world champion at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m),  Vekovishchev shows that ambition and a love of swimming continue through the years.

Another extraordinary campaign came from Yonezawa Shoko of Japan in the Women’s 90–94 category, who rewrote the breaststroke standards in both long- and short-course pools. Her 200m Breaststroke short-course performance of 4:32.36 was over 13% faster than the previous Masters World Record, one of the most significant improvements seen in 2025. All told, Shoko set six Masters World Records in 2025: three apiece in both the 50m and 25m pools. A 2009 International Swimming Hall of Fame honouree, Shoko shows that aquatics is a lifelong pursuit, saying, “Nobody who is in masters swimming hides their age…because there are more opportunities as you grow older.”

In the sprint events, ageless wonder Nicholas Santos of Brazil delivered a headline performance in the Men’s 45–49 50m Butterfly, clocking 23.26 in long course — a time that not only surpassed the previous Masters record by nearly seven percent, but also remained competitive against elite open-age benchmarks. This is not surprising, as Santos has a history of making history: he was previously the oldest swimming world champion in the elite ranks ever when he won the 50m butterfly at the 2022 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne, Australia, at age 42 years and 303 days.

Additionally, Aiko Horii made waves in the 95-99 age group, breaking two Masters World Records in backstroke events. She recorded times of 1:02.98 and 2:27.19 in the 50m and 100m backstroke, respectively. For good measure, she also reset the Masters World Record in the 50m freestyle, swimming 57.49 —much respect, Aiko-san.  

Masters Worlds Records and Performance Progressions

For the current list of the Masters World Records in the 50m pool, click here. The Masters World Records Individual Progression in long-course metres is available here.

For the current list of Masters World Records in the 25m pool, click here. The Masters World Records Individual Progression in long-course metres is available here.

The current list of Masters World Records in Relay in the 50m pool is available here. The complete list of Masters World Records in Relay in the 25m pool is available here.

Upcoming Masters Highlights

The anticipation builds as World Aquatics prepares to announce the Top 10 Masters swimmers for the 2025 season by the end of April. To honour these top participants, World Aquatics is collaborating with TYR to launch exclusive Masters swim caps.

Coming in May, TYR will be offering for sale on TYR.com and TYR.eu caps to commemorate your masters top ten or masters world record achievement! Wear them, frame them, it’s up to you! Stay tuned for more info on how to order in the coming months. These will be available for 2024, 2025 and into subsequent years.

Celebrate the Journey

As we celebrate these remarkable accomplishments, it's essential to recognise that each record represents not just a number, but the hard work, determination, and passion of these Masters partipants. Their dedication to the sport continues to inspire swimmers of all ages, reminding us that greatness knows no age limits.

Stay tuned for the Top 10 announcement and the unveiling of the special Masters swim caps as we continue to honour the incredible journey of Masters swimming.

Coming Up Next | Competition Dates Announced for the World Aquatics Masters Championships – Budapest 2027

Budapest is set to reaffirm its status as one of the world’s premier hosts of major aquatic events as it prepares to welcome both the World Aquatics Championships and World Aquatics Masters Championships at the same time in 2027. Showcasing Budapest's innovative spirit and access to world-class aquatics facilities, 2027 will mark the first time all elite and masters events at the world championships are held concurrently.  

This event unites master-aged participants, with more than 8,000 athletes from over 180 countries expected to compete.

Here are the sport-by-sport competition dates for the World Aquatics Championships – Budapest 2027:

• Artistic Swimming: 26 – 30 June
• Open Water Swimming: 29 – 30 June
• Swimming: 3 – 9 July
• Diving: 5 – 10 July
• Water Polo: 11 – 17 July

For more information about the Championships, check out the latest news here. Further details on competition schedules, ticketing, and event services will be communicated at a later date as preparations for the 2027 Masters World Championships in Budapest continue. Mark your calendars for mid-2026 when ticket information will be released. This will ensure participants and fans do not miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting global event.

The List: All 310 Masters World Records Set in 2025

Long Course | Individual

Short Course | Individual 

Long Course | Relays

Short Course | Relays