# List of African records in swimming

The African records in swimming are the fastest times ever by a swimmer representing an African country. These records are ratified by CANA, the African Swimming Confederation (its acronym derives from its name in French: Confédération Africaine Natation).
All records were set in finals unless noted otherwise.

## Long Course (50 m)
### Men

| Event | Time | | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location |
| 50m freestyle | 21.67 | = | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 16 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 50m freestyle | 21.67 | =, sf | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 2 August 2013 | World Championships | Barcelona, Spain |
| 100m freestyle | 47.79 | h | Lyndon Ferns | South Africa | 29 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 200m freestyle | 1:45.20 | | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 8 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 400m freestyle | 3:40.70 | | Ahmed Hafnaoui | Tunisia | 23 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan |
| 800m freestyle | 7:35.27 | | Oussama Mellouli | Tunisia | 29 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 1500m freestyle | 14:31.54 | | Ahmed Hafnaoui | Tunisia | 30 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan |
| 50m backstroke | 24.34 | | Gerhard Zandberg | South Africa | 2 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 100m backstroke | 52.58 | | Pieter Coetze | South Africa | 29 July 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France |
| 200m backstroke | 1:55.60 | | Pieter Coetze | South Africa | 1 August 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France |
| 50m breaststroke | 26.54 | h | Cameron van der Burgh | South Africa | 25 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 100m breaststroke | 58.46 | | Cameron van der Burgh | South Africa | 29 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:09.61 | sf | Neil Versfeld | South Africa | 30 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 50m butterfly | 22.90 | h | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 100m butterfly | 50.56 | | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 8 August 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia |
| 200m butterfly | 1:52.96 | CR | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 31 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom |
| 200m individual medley | 1:57.03 | sf | Darian Townsend | South Africa | 25 April 2009 | French Championships | Montpellier, France |
| 400m individual medley | 4:10.53 | | Oussama Mellouli | Tunisia | 29 June 2009 | Mediterranean Games | Pescara, Italy |
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:28.78 | | Lyndon FernsRoland SchoemanGerhard ZandbergRyk Neethling | South Africa | 2 April 2003 | - | |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:11.93 | | Lyndon Ferns (48.32)Graeme Moore (48.05)Darian Townsend (48.05)Roland Schoeman (47.51) | South Africa | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 7:08.01 | h | Jean Basson (1:45.99)Darian Townsend (1:46.22)Jan Venter (1:47.78)Sebastien Rousseau (1:48.02) | South Africa | 31 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:31.53 | h | George Du Rand (53.90)Cameron van der Burgh (58.32)Lyndon Ferns (52.06)Graeme Moore (47.25) | South Africa | 2 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |

### Women

| Event | Time | | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location |
| 50m freestyle | 24.62 | sf | Farida Osman | Egypt | 29 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 100m freestyle | 54.23 | | Erin Gallagher | South Africa | 9 April 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia |
| 200m freestyle | 1:56.80 | r | Aimee Canny | South Africa | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| 400m freestyle | 4:07.92 | | Karin Prinsloo | South Africa | 31 January 2014 | Aquatic Super Series | Perth, Australia |
| 800m freestyle | 8:25.71 | | Wendy Trott | South Africa | 14 June 2012 | Trofeo Sette Colli | Rome, Italy |
| 1500m freestyle | 16:05.63 | h | Wendy Trott | South Africa | 25 July 2011 | World Championships | Shanghai, China |
| 50m backstroke | 28.08 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 13 June 2015 | Mare Nostrum | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| 100m backstroke | 58.77 | sf | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 11 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 200m backstroke | 2:04.81 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 1 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
| 50m breaststroke | 29.72 | h, CR | Lara van Niekerk | South Africa | 6 April 2022 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:04.82 | h, CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | South Africa | 25 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:18.95 | CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | South Africa | 30 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan |
| 50m butterfly | 25.38 | | Farida Osman | Egypt | 24 June 2022 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 100m butterfly | 57.32 | | Erin Gallagher | South Africa | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| 200m butterfly | 2:09.41 | h | Katheryn Meaklim | South Africa | 12 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 200m individual medley | 2:08.59 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 13 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 400m individual medley | 4:29.89 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 9 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:45.66 | | L. KempK. RossA. PeensV. Mohr | Tuks | 10 April 2014 | South African Championships | South Africa |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:40.29 | | Aimee Canny (55.27)Emma Chelius (54.94)Erin Gallagher (54.34)Rebecca Meder (55.74) | South Africa | 10 April 2021 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 8:01.56 | h | Aimee Canny (1:58.41)Rebecca Meder (2:00.53)Dune Coetzee (1:59.75)Erin Gallagher (2:02.87) | South Africa | 28 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:59.63 | | Rebecca Meder (1:01.39)Lara van Niekerk (1:05.56)Erin Gallagher (58.88)Aimee Canny (53.80) | South Africa | 3 August 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom |

### Mixed relay

| Event | Time | | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:30.16 | h | Clayton Jimmie (50.04)Aimee Canny (54.58)Roland Schoeman (50.48)Rebecca Meder (55.06) | South Africa | 29 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:44.38 | | Pieter Coetze (53.42)Lara van Niekerk (1:05.41)Chad le Clos (50.94)Aimee Canny (54.61) | South Africa | 2 August 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | |

## Short Course (25 m)
### Men

| Event | Time | | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location |
| 50m freestyle | 20.30 | CR | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 8 August 2009 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| 100m freestyle | 45.78 | | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 6 August 2017 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 200m freestyle | 1:40.65 | | Matthew Sates | South Africa | 3 October 2021 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 400m freestyle | 3:36.30 | | Matthew Sates | South Africa | 21 October 2022 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 800m freestyle | 7:31.93 | | Ahmed Jaouadi | Tunisia | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 1500m freestyle | 14:10.94 | | Ahmed Hafnaoui | Tunisia | 21 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| 50m backstroke | 22.75 | | Pieter Coetze | South Africa | 1 November 2024 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore |
| 100m backstroke | 49.35 | | Pieter Coetze | South Africa | 20 October 2024 | World Cup | Shanghai, China |
| 200m backstroke | 1:47.08 | | George Du Rand | South Africa | 7 November 2009 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia |
| 50m breaststroke | 25.25 | CR | Cameron van der Burgh | South Africa | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 100m breaststroke | 55.61 | | Cameron van der Burgh | South Africa | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:02.56 | | Neil Versfeld | South Africa | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 50m butterfly | 21.87 | CR | Roland Schoeman | South Africa | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 100m butterfly | 48.08 | CR | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 8 December 2016 | World Championships | Windsor, Canada |
| 200m butterfly | 1:48.27 | CR | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia |
| 100m individual medley | 51.05 | CR | Gerhard Zandberg | South Africa | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 200m individual medley | 1:50.15 | CR | Matthew Sates | South Africa | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia |
| 400m individual medley | 3:57.40 | | Oussama Mellouli | Tunisia | 16 December 2010 | World Championships | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:24.14 | | Brad Tandy (21.22)Chad le Clos (20.31)Douglas Erasmus (21.29)Ryan Coetzee (21.32) | South Africa | 14 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:12.87 | h | Leith Shankland (48.05)Clayton Jimmie (47.89)Calvyn Justus (48.32)Myles Brown (48.61) | South Africa | 3 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 6:52.13 | | Myles Brown (1:43.45)Sebastien Rousseau (1:43.96)Chad le Clos (1:40.61)Leith Shankland (1:44.31) | South Africa | 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| 4×50m medley relay | 1:32.56 | | Mohamed Samy (23.68)Youssef Elkamash (26.32)Youssef Ramadan (22.12)Abdelrahman Sameh (20.44) | Egypt | 20 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:30.83 | h | Mohamed Samy (52.55)Youssef Elkamash (59.71)Youssef Ramadan (50.89)Abdelrahman Sameh (47.68) | Egypt | 21 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |

### Women

| Event | Time | | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location |
| 50m freestyle | 24.14 | h | Caitlin De Lange | South Africa | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 100m freestyle | 52.70 | sf | Erin Gallagher | South Africa | 12 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China |
| 200m freestyle | 1:54.13 | | Aimee Canny | South Africa | 18 October 2024 | Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet | Charlottesville, United States |
| 400m freestyle | 4:03.50 | | Melissa Corfe | South Africa | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| 800m freestyle | 8:22.05 | | Jessica Pengelly | South Africa | 4 November 2011 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore |
| 1500m freestyle | 16:09.12 | | Stephanie Houtman | South Africa | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 50m backstroke | 26.85 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 13 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| 100m backstroke | 56.56 | | Chanelle Van Wyk | South Africa | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany |
| 200m backstroke | 2:00.91 | | Kirsty Coventry | Zimbabwe | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| 50m breaststroke | 29.09 | | Lara van Niekerk | South Africa | 18 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:03.89 | | Tatjana Schoenmaker | South Africa | 25 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:18.02 | | Tatjana Schoenmaker | South Africa | 26 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| 50m butterfly | 25.31 | | Farida Osman | Egypt | 17 November 2019 | International Swimming League | College Park, United States |
| 100m butterfly | 56.46 | | Farida Osman | Egypt | 20 December 2019 | International Swimming League | Las Vegas, United States |
| 200m butterfly | 2:04.24 | | Mandy Loots | South Africa | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore |
| 100m individual medley | 57.69 | sf | Rebecca Meder | South Africa | 12 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 200m individual medley | 2:05.61 | | Rebecca Meder | South Africa | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 400m individual medley | 4:22.88 | CR | Katheryn Meaklim | South Africa | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore |
| 4×50m freestyle relay | 1:40.80 | h | Caitlin De Lange (24.33)Rebecca Meder (25.14)Emily Visagie (26.08)Milla Drakopoulos (25.25) | South Africa | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia |
| 4×100m freestyle relay | 3:41.57 | h | Milla Drakopoulos (56.97)Caitlin De Lange (53.33)Emily Visagie (57.08)Rebecca Meder (54.19) | South Africa | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia |
| 4×200m freestyle relay | 8:02.49 | h | Karin Prinsloo (1:58.41)Michelle Weber (2:02.84)Kyna Pereira (2:00.99)Jessica Pengelly (2:00.25) | South Africa | 12 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| 4×50m medley relay | 1:52.16 | h | Erin Gallagher (28.26)Tatjana Schoenmaker (32.06)Trudi Maree (27.04)Lehesta Kemp (24.80) | South Africa | 5 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| 4×100m medley relay | 3:57.68 | h | Milla Drakopoulos (59.32)Lara van Niekerk (1:06.13)Rebecca Meder (57.20)Jessica Thompson (55.03) | South Africa | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |

### Mixed relay

| Event | Time | | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location |
| 4×50 m freestyle relay | 1:33.19 | | Luke Pendock (22.01)Clayton Jimmie (21.30)Lehesta Kemp (24.90)Trudi Maree (24.98) | South Africa | 6 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| 4×50 m medley relay | 1:41.32 | h | Jessica Thompson (27.16)Michael Houlie (25.67)Caitlin de Lange (26.40)Kris Mihaylov (22.09) | South Africa | 11 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 4×100 m medley relay | 3:37.71 | h | Ruard van Renen (50.07)Rebecca Meder (1:04.81)Chad le Clos (49.57)Caitlin de Lange (53.26) | South Africa | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |

## Record holders' rankings
### By nation

| Nation | Record tally | LC | SC | Total | LC | SC | Total | LC | SC | Total |
| Nation | Record tally | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed |
| South Africa | 71 | 17 | 18 | 34 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Zimbabwe | 9 | | | | 6 | 2 | 8 | | | |
| Tunisia | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | |
| Egypt | 6 | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | |
| Total | 91 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 2 | 3 | 5 |