The Longest-Standing American Records and Who Can Break Them (Women’s Edition)
A glance at the American records from the long-course pool reveals there are more longstanding marks among men than there are among women. On the men’s side, five records have endured from the 2008 and 2009 seasons, including a trio (200 freestyle; 200 butterfly; 200 individual medley) from the legendary Michael Phelps. However, there are only two women’s records remaining from that era.
As we did with the men’s American records in a previous article, let’s take a look at the oldest women’s standards, and who is best positioned to break them.
Allison Schmitt (200 Freestyle)
Record Time: 1:53.61 (2012)
The Record: At the 2012 Olympic Games, Allison Schmitt packaged a dominant performance in the 200 freestyle, blazing to victory by nearly two seconds over Frenchwoman Camille Muffat. While Schmitt’s national record has been scared on a handful of occasions through the years, including by Katie Ledecky, it recently celebrated its 13th anniversary.
The American Chasers: Over the past few years, Claire Weinstein has established herself as the United States’ premier performer in the 200 freestyle. Despite battling illness at the World Championships last summer in Singapore, Weinstein registered a career-best time in the 200 freestyle, going 1:54.67 for the bronze medal. In her freshman year at Cal-Berkeley, Weinstein seems poised to continue her development in the four-lap event and give Schmitt’s record a nudge.
Ariana Kukors (200 Individual Medley)
Record Time: 2:06.15 (2009)
The Record: During the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Ariana Kukors cooked up a pair of world records in the 200 individual medley. After producing a mark of 2:07.03 in the semifinals, Kukors rocketed to the gold medal with a global standard of 2:06.15. That performance stood as the world record for six years, until Hungarian Katinka Hosszu went 2:06.12 at the World Champs.
The American Chasers: During the Summer of 2024, the United States’ Kate Douglass clocked an outing of 2:06.79 at the Olympic Trials. That swim was followed up by a mark of 2:06.92 at the Olympic Games, which was good for the silver medal. Douglass would certainly have a chance at Kukors’ record, but opted away from the event during the 2025 season and her future in the 200 medley remains uncertain.
Katie Hoff (400 Individual Medley)
Record Time: 4:31.12 (2008)
The Record: The 2008 United States Olympic Trials was the site of Katie Hoff’s performance of 4:31.12, which was a world record at the time and preceded a bronze medal in the event at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Over the past 17 years, Hoff’s standard has repelled challenges from the likes of Elizabeth Beisel, Maya DiRado and Katie Grimes.
The American Chasers: The leading challenger to Hoff’s American record is murky. Katie Grimes has been the closest pursuer in recent years, thanks to an effort of 4:31.41 at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. During the 2025 season, Emma Weyant was the top American, as she went a best of 4:33.95. If Grimes can regain her past form in the event, she stands the best chance of breaking Hoff’s record.