World record progression 4x100 metres medley relay

The world record in the 4×100 metres medley swimming relay was first recognised in 1953^{[citation needed]} by FINA, with world swimming governing body. Initially world records were only recognised in long course swimming pools which were a minimum of 50 metres in length – some of the early records were achieved in pools measuring 55 yards (50.29 m).^{[citation needed]} Records set in a Short course (25 m) pool have been recognised since 3 March 1991.^{[citation needed]}

The medley relay consists of 4 competitors swimming consecutively with each swimmer performing a different stroke:

1. Backstroke (this can only be the first stroke, due to the necessity of starting this leg in the pool rather than by diving in)
2. Breaststroke
3. Butterfly
4. Freestyle, (with the limitation that freestyle means any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly – most swimmers use the front crawl)

It is possible to set a world record in the 100 m backstroke through performance by the first swimmer of the relay team. Performances in the other legs cannot qualify as world records as FINA criteria requires a static start – swimming relay takeovers are often dynamic.

The event has been a fixture of the Olympic swimming programme since 1960.

Men

Long course

#	Time		Name	Nationality	Date	Meet	Location	Ref
1	4:39.2		Hellsing ! Gustaf Hellsing Lennart Brock Roy Dahl Hakan Westesson	Sweden	01953-02-22 22 February 1953	-	Sweden, Helsingborg ! Helsingborg, Sweden
2	4:32.2		Bozon ! Gilbert Bozon Pierre Dumesnil Maurice Lusien Alex Jany	France	01953-03-22 22 March 1953	-	Belgium, Charleroi ! Charleroi, Belgium
3	4:31.5		Violas ! A. Violas Pierre Dumesnil Julian Arene Aldo Eminente	France	01953-04-01 1 April 1953	-	France, Troyes ! Troyes, France
4	4:30.8		Hellsing ! Gustaf Hellsing Lennart Brock Göran Larsson Per-Olof Östrand	Sweden	01953-04-17 17 April 1953	-	Sweden, Lund ! Lund, Sweden
5	4:27.8		Hellsing ! Gustaf Hellsing Lennart Brock Göran Larsson Per-Olof Östrand	Sweden	01953-04-24 24 April 1953	-	Sweden, Borås ! Borås, Sweden
6	4:24.8		Lopatine ! V. Lopatine Vladimir Minashkin P. Skripchenkov Lev Balandin	Soviet Union	01953-05-13 13 May 1953	-	Soviet Union, Moscow ! Moscow, Soviet Union
7	4:21.3		Soloviev ! V. Soloviev Vladimir Minashkin P. Skripchenkov Lev Balandin	Soviet Union	01954-01-26 26 January 1954	-	Soviet Union, Moscow ! Moscow, Soviet Union
8	4:19.0		! [[]] [[]] [[]] [[]]	Soviet Union	01954-02-24 24 February 1954	-	Sweden, Stockholm ! Stockholm, Sweden	[1]
9	4:14.8		Kuvaldin ! G. Kuvaldin Vladimir Minashkin Vladimir Strushanov Lev Balandin	Soviet Union	01956-08-14 14 August 1956	Olympic Trials	Soviet Union, Moscow ! Moscow, Soviet Union	[2]
10	4:17.8		Ishikara !  (1:01.2) Katsuki Ishikara  (-) Masaru Furukawa  (-) Kazuo Tomita  (-) Takashi Ishimoto	Japan	01957-09-07 7 September 1957	All-Japan Student Championships	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan	[3]
11	4:17.2		Hase ! Keiji Hase Takashi Ishimoto Masaru Furukawa Manabu Koga	Japan	01958-05-28 28 May 1958	Asian Games	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
12	4:16.7		! [[]] [[]] [[]] [[]]	Japan	01958-06-29 29 June 1958	-	United States, Los Angeles ! Los Angeles, United States
13	4:14.2	(yd)	Monckton ! John Monckton Terry Gathercole Brian Wilkinson John Devitt	Australia	01958-07-25 25 July 1958	British Empire and Commonwealth Games	United Kingdom, Cardiff ! Cardiff, United Kingdom	[4]
14	4:10.4		Monckton ! John Monckton Terry Gathercole Brian Wilkinson John Devitt	Australia	01958-08-22 22 August 1958	-	Japan, Osaka ! Osaka, Japan	[5]
15	4:09.2		McKinney ! Frank McKinney Chet Jastremski Mike Troy Peter Sintz	United States	01960-07-24 24 July 1960	-	United States, Toledo, Ohio ! Toledo, Ohio, United States
16	4:08.2	(h)	Bennett ! Robert Bennett Paul Hait David Gillanders Stephen Clark	United States	01960-08-27 27 August 1960	Olympic Games	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy
17	4:05.4		McKinney ! Frank McKinney Paul Hait Lance Larson Jeff Farrell	United States	01960-09-01 1 September 1960	Olympic Games	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy	[6]
18	4:03.0		Stock ! Tom Stock Chet Jastremski Lary Schulhof Peter Sintz	United States	01961-08-20 20 August 1961	-	United States, Los Angeles ! Los Angeles, United States
19	4:01.6		Stock ! Tom Stock Chet Jastremski Fred Schmidt Peter Sintz	United States	01962-08-12 12 August 1962	-	United States, Cuyahoga Falls ! Cuyahoga Falls, United States
20	4:00.1		McGeagh ! Richard McGeagh Bill Craig Walter Richardson Stephen Clark	United States	01963-08-24 24 August 1963	-	Japan, Osaka ! Osaka, Japan
21	3:58.4		Mann !  (59.6 WR) Tom Mann  (1:09.6) Bill Craig  (56.8) Fred Schmidt  (52.4) Stephen Clark	United States	01964-10-16 16 October 1964	Olympic Games	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan	[7]
22	3:57.2		Hickcox !  (59.1 WR) Charles Hickcox Ken Merten Doug Russell Ken Walsh	United States	01967-08-31 31 August 1967	Universiade	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
23	3:56.5		Matthes ! Roland Matthes Egon Henninger Horst-Gunther Gregor Frank Wiegand	East Germany	01967-11-07 7 November 1967	-	East Germany, Leipzig ! Leipzig, East Germany
24	3:54.9		Hickcox ! Charles Hickcox Don McKenzie (swimmer) Doug Russell Ken Walsh	United States	01968-10-26 26 October 1968	Olympic Games	Mexico, Mexico City ! Mexico City, Mexico	[8]
25	3:54.4		Matthes ! Roland Matthes Klaus Katzur Udo Poser Lutz Unger	East Germany	01970-09-08 8 September 1970	European Championships	Spain, Barcelona ! Barcelona, Spain
26	3:50.4		Campbell ! Charles Campbell Peter Dahlberg Mark Spitz Jerry Heidenreich	United States	01971-09-03 3 September 1971	GDRvUSA Duel	East Germany, Leipzig ! Leipzig, East Germany
27	3:48.16		Stamm !  (57.97) Mike Stamm  (1:04.22) Thomas Bruce  (54.28) Mark Spitz  (51.69) Jerry Heidenreich	United States	01972-09-04 4 September 1972	Olympic Games	West Germany, Munich ! Munich, West Germany
28	3:47.28		Rocca ! Peter Rocca Chris Woo Joseph Bottom Jack Babashoff	United States	01976-07-22 22 July 1976	Olympic Games	Canada, Montreal ! Montreal, Canada
29	3:42.22		Naber !  (55.89) John Naber  (1:02.50) John Hencken  (54.26) Matt Vogel  (49.57) Jim Montgomery	United States	01976-07-22 22 July 1976	Olympic Games	Canada, Montreal ! Montreal, Canada
30	3:40.84		Carey ! Rick Carey Steve Lundquist Matt Gribble Rowdy Gaines	United States	01982-08-07 7 August 1982	World Championships	Ecuador, Guayaquil ! Guayaquil, Ecuador
31	3:40.42		Carey ! Rick Carey Steve Lundquist Matt Gribble Rowdy Gaines	United States	01983-08-22 22 August 1983	Pan American Games	Venezuela, Caracas ! Caracas, Venezuela
32	3:39.30		Carey !  (55.41) Rick Carey  (1:01.86) Steve Lundquist  (52.87) Pablo Morales  (49.16) Rowdy Gaines	United States	01984-08-04 4 August 1984	Olympic Games	United States, Los Angeles ! Los Angeles, United States
33	3:38.28		Carey ! Rick Carey John Moffet Pablo Morales  (47.84) Matt Biondi	United States	01985-08-18 18 August 1985	Pan Pacific Championships	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan	[9]
34.1 !34	3:36.93		Berkoff !  (54.56) David Berkoff  (1:01.64) Rick Schroeder  (52.38) Matt Biondi  (48.35) Chris Jacobs	United States	01988-09-25 25 September 1988	Olympic Games	South Korea, Seoul ! Seoul, South Korea	[10]
34.2 !34=	3:36.93		Rouse !  (53.86 WR) Jeff Rouse  (1:01.45) Nelson Diebel  (52.83) Pablo Morales  (48.79) Jon Olsen	United States	01992-07-31 31 July 1992	Olympic Games	Spain, Barcelona ! Barcelona, Spain	[11]
35	3:34.84		Rouse !  (53.95) Jeff Rouse  (1:00.32) Jeremy Linn  (52.39) Mark Henderson  (48.18) Gary Hall, Jr.	United States	01996-07-26 26 July 1996	Olympic Games	United States, Atlanta ! Atlanta, United States
36	3:33.73		Krayzelburg !  (53.87) Lenny Krayzelburg  (59.84) Ed Moses  (52.10) Ian Crocker  (47.92) Gary Hall, Jr.	United States	02000-09-23 23 September 2000	Olympic Games	Australia, Sydney ! Sydney, Australia	[12]
37	3:33.48		Peirsol !  (54.17) Aaron Peirsol  (1:00.14) Brendan Hansen  (51.13) Michael Phelps  (48.04) Jason Lezak	United States	02002-08-29 29 August 2002	Pan Pacific Championships	Japan, Yokohama ! Yokohama, Japan
38	3:31.54		Peirsol !  (53.71) Aaron Peirsol  (59.61) Brendan Hansen  (50.39) Ian Crocker  (47.83) Jason Lezak	United States	02003-07-27 27 July 2003	World Championships	Spain, Barcelona ! Barcelona, Spain	[13]
39	3:30.68		Peirsol !  (53.45 WR) Aaron Peirsol  (59.37) Brendan Hansen  (50.28) Ian Crocker  (47.58) Jason Lezak	United States	02004-08-21 21 August 2004	Olympic Games	Greece, Athens ! Athens, Greece	[14]
40	3:29.34		Peirsol !  (53.16) Aaron Peirsol  (59.27) Brendan Hansen  (50.15) Michael Phelps  (46.76) Jason Lezak	United States	02008-08-17 17 August 2008	Olympic Games	China, Beijing ! Beijing, China	[15]
41	3:27.28		Peirsol !  (52.19) Aaron Peirsol  (58.57) Eric Shanteau  (49.72) Michael Phelps  (46.80) David Walters	United States	02009-07-02 2 July 2009	World Championships	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy

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		Name	Nationality	Date	Meet	Location	Ref
1	3:34.86		Tewksbury !  (52.50 WBT) Mark Tewksbury  (-) John Cleveland  (-) Tom Ponting  (-) Gary Vandermeulen	Canada	01992-02-22 22 February 1992	CAN SC Nationals	Canada, Winnipeg ! Winnipeg, Canada
2	3:32.57		Schwenk !  (53.24) Tripp Schwenk  (59.43) Seth Van Neerden  (52.20) Mark Henderson  (47.70) Jon Olsen	United States	01993-12-02 2 December 1993	World SC Championships	Spain, Palma de Mallorca ! Palma de Mallorca, Spain
3	3:30.91		Radley !  (52.28) Adrian Radley  (59.68) Ryan Mitchell  (51.10) Geoff Huegill  (47.85) Michael Klim	Australia	01996-12-23 23 December 1996	AUS SC Nationals	Australia, Melbourne ! Melbourne, Australia
4	3:30.66		Radley !  (52.72) Adrian Radley  (59.39) Phil Rogers  (51.35) Geoff Huegill  (47.20) Michael Klim	Australia	01997-04-17 17 April 1997	World SC Championships	Sweden, Gothenburg ! Gothenburg, Sweden
5	3:29.88		Welsh !  (53.34) Matt Welsh  (59.47) Phil Rogers  (50.69) Michael Klim  (46.38) Chris Fydler	Australia	01999-04-04 4 April 1999	World SC Championships	Hong Kong, Hong Kong ! Hong Kong, Hong Kong
6	3:29.00		Peirsol !  (52.17) Aaron Peirsol  (58.56) David Denniston  (51.93) Peter Marshall  (46.34) Jason Lezak	United States	02002-04-07 7 April 2002	World SC Championships	Russia, Moscow ! Moscow, Russia	[16]
7	3:28.12	(tt)	Welsh !  (50.95) Matt Welsh  (59.44) Jim Piper  (50.61) Geoff Huegill  (47.12) Ashley Callus	Australia	02002-09-04 4 September 2002	AUS SC Nationals	Australia, Melbourne ! Melbourne, Australia	[17]
8	3:25.38		Peirsol !  (51.28) Aaron Peirsol  (57.82) Brendan Hansen  (48.62) Ian Crocker  (47.66) Garrett Weber-Gale	United States	02004-03-25 25 March 2004	NCAA Championships	United States, East Meadow ! East Meadow, United States
9	3:25.09		Peirsol !  (51.35) Aaron Peirsol  (57.42) Brendan Hansen  (49.76) Ian Crocker  (46.56) Jason Lezak	United States	02004-10-11 11 October 2004	World SC Championships	United States, Indianapolis ! Indianapolis, United States	[18]
10	3.24.29		Donets !  (50.57) Stanislav Donets  (57.93) Sergey Geybel  (49.39) Yevgeny Korotyshkin  (46.40) Alexander Sukhorukov	Russia	02008-04-13 13 April 2008	World SC Championships	United Kingdom, Manchester ! Manchester, United Kingdom	[19]
11	3.23.33		Tapp !  (50.60) Jake Tapp  (57.18) Paul Kornfeld  (50.18) Joe Bartoch  (45.37) Brent Hayden	Canada	02009-08-09 9 August 2009	British Gas SC Grand Prix	United Kingdom, Leeds ! Leeds, United Kingdom
12	3.20.71		Thoman !  (48.94) Nick Thoman  (57.03) Mark Gangloff  (49.93) Michael Phelps  (44.81) Nathan Adrian	United States	02009-12-18 18 December 2009	Duel in the Pool	United Kingdom, Manchester ! Manchester, United Kingdom
13	3:19.16		Donets !  (49.63) Stanislav Donets  (56.43) Sergey Geybel  (48.35) Yevgeny Korotyshkin  (44.75) Danila Izotov	Russia	02009-12-20 20 December 2009	Vladimir Salnikov Swimming Cup	Russia, Saint Petersburg ! Saint Petersburg, Russia	[20]

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
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

Women

Long course

#	Time		Name	Nationality	Date	Meet	Location	Ref
1	5:10.8		Hunyadfi ! Magda Hunyadfi Klara Killermann Éva Székely Valéria Gyenge	Hungary	01953-07-24 24 July 1953	-	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary
2	5:09.2		Hunyadfi ! Magda Hunyadfi Klara Killermann Éva Székely Valéria Gyenge	Hungary	01953-08-10 10 August 1953	-	Romania, Bucharest ! Bucharest, Romania
3	5:07.8		Temes ! Judit Temes Klara Killermann Mária Littomericzky Katalin Szőke	Hungary	01954-08-03 3 August 1954	-	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary
4	5:06.2		Andre ! Marie-Helene Andre Francoise Derommeleere Odette Lusien Josette Arene	France	01954-08-16 16 August 1954	-	France, Marseille ! Marseille, France
5	5:02.1		de Korte !  (1:13.0) Joke de Korte  (1:23.4) Rika Bruins  (1:20.3) Mary Kok  (1:05.4) Geertje Wielema	Netherlands	01954-11-27 27 November 1954	-	Netherlands, Rotterdam ! Rotterdam, Netherlands	[21]
6	5:00.1		van Alphen ! Jopie van Alphen Rika Bruins Atie Voorbij Hetty Balkenende	Netherlands	01955-07-17 17 July 1955	-	France, Paris ! Paris, France	[22]
7	4:57.8		Pajor ! Eva Pajor Éva Székely Rypsyma Székely Katalin Szőke	Hungary	01955-09-03 3 September 1955	-	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary	[22]
8	4:54.3		de Nijs ! Lenie de Nijs Rita Kroon Atie Voorbij Greetje Kraan	Netherlands	01956-11-19 19 November 1956	-	Netherlands, Hilversum ! Hilversum, Netherlands	[22]
9	4:53.1		de Korte ! Joke de Korte Ada den Haan Tineke Lagerberg Cocky Gastelaars	Netherlands	01956-12-08 8 December 1956	-	Netherlands, Zwolle ! Zwolle, Netherlands
10	4:57.0	(yd)	Kraan ! Greetje Kraan Ada den Haan Atie Voorbij Cocky Gastelaars	Netherlands	01957-05-18 18 May 1957	GBRvNED International	United Kingdom, Blackpool ! Blackpool, United Kingdom	[23]
11	4:54.0	(yd)	Grinham !  (1:10.9) Judy Grinham  (1:23.3) Anita Lonsbrough  (1:14.2) Chris Gosden  (1:04.6) Diana Wilkinson	Great Britain	01958-07-25 25 July 1958	British Empire and Commonwealth Games	United Kingdom, Cardiff ! Cardiff, United Kingdom	[24]
12	4:52.9		de Nijs ! Lenie de Nijs Ada den Haan Atie Voorbij Cocky Gastelaars	Netherlands	01958-09-05 5 September 1958	European Championships	Hungary, Budapest ! Budapest, Hungary	[25]
13	4:51.5		van Velsen !  (1:11.7) Ria van Velsen Ada den Haan Tineke Lagerberg Cocky Gastelaars	Netherlands	01959-07-26 26 July 1959	NEDvGBR International Meet	Netherlands, Waalwijk ! Waalwijk, Netherlands	[26]
14	4:44.6		Cone ! Carin Cone Ann Bancroft Becky Collins Chris von Saltza	United States	01959-09-06 6 September 1959	1959 Pan American Games	United States, Chicago ! Chicago, United States	[27]
15	4:41.1		Burke ! Lynn Burke Patty Kempner Carolyn Schuler Chris von Saltza	United States	01960-09-02 2 September 1960	Olympic Games	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy
16	4:40.1		Schmidt ! Ingrid Schmidt Heidi Pechstein Ute Noack Barbara Gobel	East Germany	01962-08-23 23 August 1962	European Championships	East Germany, Leipzig ! Leipzig, East Germany	[28]
17	4:39.1		van Velsen !  (1:12.2) Maria van Velsen  (1:18.0) Klenie Bimolt  (1:05.4) Ada Kok  (1:03.5) Erica Terpstra	Netherlands	01964-06-28 28 June 1964	NEDvGBR International Meet	Netherlands, Groningen (city) ! Groningen (city), Netherlands	[29]
18	4:38.1		Haroun ! Donna de Varona Claudia Kolb Judy Haroun Pokey Watson	United States	01964-07-04 4 July 1964	-	United States, Los Altos, California ! Los Altos, California, United States
19	4:34.6		Ferguson ! Cathy Ferguson Cynthia Goyette Martha Randall Kathleen Ellis	United States	01964-09-28 28 September 1964	Pre Olympic	United States, Los Angeles ! Los Angeles, United States
20	4:33.9		Ferguson ! Cathy Ferguson Cynthia Goyette Sharon Stouder Kathleen Ellis	United States	01964-10-18 18 October 1964	Olympic Games	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
21	4:30.0		Moore ! Kendis Moore Catie Ball Ellie Daniel Wendy Fordyce	United States	01967-07-30 30 July 1967	Pan American Games	Canada, Winnipeg ! Winnipeg, Canada
22	4:28.1		Hall ! Kaye Hall Catie Ball Ellie Daniel Susan Pedersen	United States	01968-09-14 14 September 1968	Pre Olympic	United States, Colorado Springs ! Colorado Springs, United States
23	4:27.4		Atwood ! Susan Atwood Kim Brecht Alice Jones Cindy Schilling	United States	01970-09-01 1 September 1970	-	Japan, Tokyo ! Tokyo, Japan
24	4:27.3		Atwood ! Susan Atwood Claudia Clevenger Ellie Daniel Linda Johnson	United States	01971-09-11 11 September 1971	URSvUSAvGBR meet	Soviet Union, Minsk ! Minsk, Soviet Union
25	4:25.34		Atwood ! Susan Atwood Lynn Vidali Ellie Daniel Jane Barkman	United States	01972-08-18 18 August 1972	Pre Olympic	United States, Knoxville ! Knoxville, United States
26	4:20.75		Belote ! Melissa Belote Catherine Carr Deena Deardurff Sandra Neilson	United States	01972-09-03 3 September 1972	Olympic Games	West Germany, Munich ! Munich, West Germany
27	4:16.84		Kother ! Ulrike Richter Renate Vogel Rosemarie Kother Kornelia Ender	East Germany	01973-09-04 4 September 1973	World Championships	Yugoslavia, Belgrade ! Belgrade, Yugoslavia	[30]
28	4:13.78		Richter ! Ulrike Richter Renate Vogel Rosemarie Kother Kornelia Ender	East Germany	01974-08-24 24 August 1974	European Championships	Austria, Vienna ! Vienna, Austria
29	4:13.41		Seltmann ! Monika Seltmann Carola Nitschke Andrea Pollack Barbara Krause	East Germany	01976-06-05 5 June 1976	East German National Championships	East Germany, Berlin ! Berlin, East Germany	[31]
30	4:07.95		Richter !  (1:02.23) Ulrike Richter  (1:10.15) Hannelore Anke  (59.53) Andrea Pollack  (56.04) Kornelia Ender	East Germany	01976-07-18 18 July 1976	Olympic Games	Canada, Montreal ! Montreal, Canada
31	4:06.67		Reinisch !  (1:01.51 =WR) Rica Reinisch  (1:09.46) Ute Geweniger  (1:00.14) Andrea Pollack  (55.56) Caren Metschuck	East Germany	01980-07-20 20 July 1980	Olympic Games	Soviet Union, Moscow ! Moscow, Soviet Union
32	4:05.88		Otto ! Kristin Otto Ute Geweniger Ines Geißler Birgit Meineke	East Germany	01982-08-06 6 August 1982	World Championships	Ecuador, Guayaquil ! Guayaquil, Ecuador
33	4:05.79		Kleber ! Ina Kleber Ute Geweniger Ines Geißler Birgit Meineke	East Germany	01983-08-26 26 August 1983	European Championships	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy
34	4:03.69		Kleber !  (1:00.59 WR) Ina Kleber  (1:08.69) Sylvia Gerasch  (59.52) Ines Geißler  (54.89) Birgit Meineke	East Germany	01984-08-24 24 August 1984	Friendship Games	Soviet Union, Moscow ! Moscow, Soviet Union	[32]
35	4:02.54		Loveless !  (1:00.82) Lea Loveless  (1:08.67) Anita Nall  (58.58) Crissy Ahmann-Leighton  (54.47) Jenny Thompson	United States	01992-07-30 30 July 1992	Olympic Games	Spain, Barcelona ! Barcelona, Spain
36	4:01.67		He !  (1:00.16 WR) He Cihong  (1:09.04) Dai Guohong  (58.66) Liu Limin  (53.81) Le Jingyi	China	01994-09-10 10 September 1994	World Championships	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy	[33]
37	3:58.30		Bedford !  (1:01.39) Barbara Bedford  (1:06.29) Megan Quann  (57.25) Jenny Thompson  (53.37) Dara Torres	United States	02000-09-23 23 September 2000	Olympic Games	Australia, Sydney ! Sydney, Australia	[34]
38	3:57.32		Rooney !  (1:01.18) Giaan Rooney  (1:06.50) Leisel Jones  (56.67) Petria Thomas  (52.97) Jodie Henry	Australia	02004-08-21 21 August 2004	Olympic Games	Greece, Athens ! Athens, Greece	[35]
39	3:56.30		Edington !  (1:01.06) Sophie Edington  (1:05.51) Leisel Jones  (56.86) Jessicah Schipper  (52.87) Libby Lenton	Australia	02006-03-21 21 March 2006	Commonwealth Games	Australia, Melbourne ! Melbourne, Australia	[36]
40	3:55.74		Seebohm !  (1:00.79) Emily Seebohm  (1:04.94) Leisel Jones  (57.18) Jessicah Schipper  (52.83) Libby Lenton	Australia	02007-03-31 31 March 2007	World Championships	Australia, Melbourne ! Melbourne, Australia	[37]
41	3:52.69		Seebohm !  (59.33) Emily Seebohm  (1:04.58) Leisel Jones  (56.25) Jessicah Schipper  (52.53) Libby Trickett	Australia	02008-08-17 17 August 2008	Olympic Games	China, Beijing ! Beijing, China	[38]
42	3:52.19		{{{1lastname}}} !  (58.98) Zhao Jing  (1:04.12) Chen Huijia  (56.28) Jiao Liuyang  (52.81) Li Zhesi	China	02009-08-01 1 August 2009	World Championships	Italy, Rome ! Rome, Italy	[39]

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		Name	Nationality	Date	Meet	Location	Ref
1	3:57.73		He !  (1:00.31) He Cihong  (1:06.17) Dai Guohong  (59.06) Liu Limin  (52.19) Le Jingyi	China	01993-12-05 5 December 1993	World SC Championships	Spain, Palma de Mallorca ! Palma de Mallorca, Spain
2	3:57.62		Nakamura !  (59.27) Mai Nakamura  (-) Masami Tanaka  (-) Ayari Aoyama  (-) Sumika Minamoto	Japan	01999-04-04 4 April 1999	World SC Championships	Hong Kong, Hong Kong ! Hong Kong, Hong Kong
3	3:57.46		Shealy !  (58.75) Courtney Shealy  (1:06.09) Kristy Kowal  (59.28) Keegan Walkley  (53.34) Maritza Correia	United States	02000-03-17 17 March 2000	Women's NCAA Championships	United States, Indianapolis ! Indianapolis, United States
4	3:55.78		Alshammar !  (1:00.74) Therese Alshammar  (1:04.90) Emma Igelström  (57.12) Anna-Karin Kammerling  (53.02) Johanna Sjöberg	Sweden	02002-04-05 5 April 2002	World SC Championships	Russia, Moscow ! Moscow, Russia	[40]
5	3:54.95		Edington !  (59.37) Sophie Edington  (1:05.25) Brooke Hanson  (58.28) Jessicah Schipper  (52.05) Lisbeth Lenton	Australia	02004-10-09 9 October 2004	World SC Championships	United States, Indianapolis ! Indianapolis, United States	[41]
6	3:51.84		Zimmer !  (58.54) Tayliah Zimmer  (1:04.95) Jade Edmistone  (56.36) Jessicah Schipper  (51.99) Lisbeth Lenton	Australia	02006-04-07 7 April 2006	World SC Championships	China, Shanghai ! Shanghai, China	[42]
7	3:51.36		Hoelzer !  (58.79) Margaret Hoelzer  (1:03.98) Jessica Hardy  (55.93) Rachel Komisarz  (52.66) Kara Denby	United States	02008-04-11 11 April 2008	World SC Championships	United Kingdom, Manchester ! Manchester, United Kingdom	[43]
8	3:49.45		Murdoch !  (56.88) Katy Murdoch  (1:03.39) Annamay Pierse  (57.29) Audrey Lacroix  (51.89) Victoria Poon	Canada	02009-08-09 9 August 2009	British Gas swimming Grand Prix	United Kingdom, Leeds ! Leeds, United Kingdom
9	3:47.97		Hoelzer !  (57.47) Margaret Hoelzer  (1:03.58) Jessica Hardy  (54.37) Dana Vollmer  (52.55) Amanda Weir	United States	02009-12-18 18 December 2009	Duel in the Pool	United Kingdom, Manchester ! Manchester, United Kingdom

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
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

References

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