From the earliest time of 1 minute 5.80 seconds in 1905 to the latest mark of 46.40 seconds in 2024, it took humanity 119 years to shave off an impressive 19.40 seconds from the men’s 100-meter freestyle world record. This remarkable journey underscores the evolution of swimming as a sport—and highlights the unwavering determination of athletes who continually push beyond their limits and redefine what’s possible. In this article, we’ve selected and introduce some of the standout athletes who played pivotal roles in shaping this historic progression.
The current world record in the men's 100-meter freestyle was set by Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clocking a time of 46.40 seconds.
The One-Minute Era
Zoltán Halmay
June 18, 1881 – May 20, 1956, HungaryOn December 3, 1905, Zoltán Halmay set a men's 100-meter freestyle world record in Vienna, Austria—1:05.80.Halmé was crowned Hungarian champion 14 times. At the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, USA, the 23-year-old Halmé claimed victory in both the 50-meter and 100-meter events. With a wide range of interests and versatile talents, he also excelled as a rower and football player, even earning a national title in roller skating events over distances exceeding 5,000 meters. After retiring from competitive sports, he transitioned into coaching, eventually becoming the head coach of the Hungarian Swimming Association.
Charles Daniels
March 24, 1885 – August 9, 1973, United States
On July 20, 1908, Charles Daniels set a world record in the men's 100-meter freestyle at the London Olympics with a time of 1:05.60; on April 15, 1910, he broke his own record at a special challenge event held by the New York AC team in the U.S., clocking in at 1:02.80.Daniels became the first American to win an Olympic medal at the 1904 St. Louis Games and went on to earn eight Olympic medals in total. He was a pioneer of freestyle swimming, credited with inventing the "American freestyle" stroke.
June 6, 1892 – March 30, 1918, GermanyOn April 6, 1912, Kurt Bretting set a men's 100-meter freestyle world record in Brussels, Belgium—1:02.40.Bretin competed in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, finishing fourth in both the 100-meter freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Tragically, he was lost in action during World War I in 1918, at the young age of 26.
August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968 United StatesDuke Kahanamoku breaks three world records: 1:01.60 (July 1912, German Swimming Championships); 1:01.40 (August 1918, New York, USA); 1:00.40 (August 1920, Antwerp Olympics).Kahanamoku was born in Hawaii, USA. He competed in the Olympics three times, winning a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle and a silver medal in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the 1912 Stockholm Games; claiming gold in both the 100-meter freestyle and the 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics; and earning a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1924 Paris Games.After retiring from competitive swimming, he embarked on his acting career, appearing in minor roles in 28 Hollywood films. At the same time, he also became a leading advocate and coach, promoting surfing worldwide—and is widely regarded as the "Father of Surfing."
Duke Kahanamoku
Subscribe to Swimming Magazine—right here!👇
Submissions are welcome! Please send your manuscripts to the editorial office of *Swimming* magazine at: [email protected]
