How Fast Can A Human Swim? Who Holds The World Record In Swimming

Martha Martins
Apr 19, 2024 By Martha Martins
Originally Published on Nov 02, 2021
Discover amazing facts on how fast can a human swim.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 6.2 Min

Do you know the fastest human swimming speed?

Swimming is a great workout. Many of us humans love swimming rather going to a gym or any other physical workout.

Swimming has been popular as a part of national and world sports. The advantage of swimming at high speeds is that one can remain toned and completely fit while swimming.

Besides, it is fun to play and relax in the water. Swimming is an art.

There are many styles of swimming, from freestyle to frog style, backstroke, butterfly, sidestroke, to breaststroke. There are some quick swimmers, while others are slow swimmers, a few are relaxed swimmers, a few are playful swimmers, others are experimental swimmers, and then there are kinds of swimmers who are experts in water acrobats.

Many humans love swimming over any other physical workout.

They can swim anywhere in the pool, river, lake, pond, or ocean against the tide or with the big waves. However, there are many humans who prefer swimming in the pool and are scared of swimming in the ocean with big waves.

Swimming against the big waves of the sea, the body races against nature which takes a lot of effort and tires the swimmer easily. However, it is for certain that we cannot outrun a shark with a top speed of 31.07 mph (50 kph).

Many human swimming competitions, both national and world levels have been held each year. The Olympics also includes swimming sports.

During the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo, sports swimmer Caeleb Dressel achieved the record in the 100-meter race in 49.45 secs breaking his own record by 0.05 secs. He took nearly a third of a second off Phelps' time to beat Phelps and win the fastest swimmer record. He is known as the fastest swimmer to date.

Michael Phelps is an Olympic gold medalist. His swimming speed consists of 656.17 ft (200 m) freestyle in 1.42 minutes. Phelps held the record for the longest for the years 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2016.

His swimming speed was 164.04 ft (50 m) in 22.93 secs. Swimmers use a breathing technique to swim faster and win races.

If you find this article fun and informative, keep reading, and you can also visit these how fast can a hippo swim and how fast can a shark swim articles.

How fast can a human swim with flippers?

Flippers help us to swim faster and better. The advantage of flippers or fins is that it increases the swim speed and also further helps in kicking for a long duration or more distance which helps in building endurance.

Flippers help in adding more resistance which further helps in increasing the power. However, flippers are not used for competition but for practicing swimming, sea fishing and personal swimming in the pool.

The speed of swimming with the help of flippers has not been recorded yet since they have never been a part of swimming competitions. It is easier to swim in the pool at high speeds within the known territories than in the wild of ocean waves and river depth.

Many people are scared to swim in the wild and prefer pool time in a safe place.

How fast can a human swim in mph?

The fastest speed at which an individual can swim in the water is 6 mph (9.66 kph). Phelps attained a record of 6 mph (9.66 kph) in 2010 in freestyle swimming. The French swimmer Frederick Bousquet set a global record in swimming freestyle 164.04 ft (50 m) in a time of 20.94 seconds.

Olympic gold medalist, Michael Phelps, can cover 656.17 ft (200 m) in 1.42 minutes by swimming, which is equivalent to the speed 4.7 mph (7.56 kph).

Guess what - a sailfish can cover 656 ft (200 m) of length in 10 seconds.

Sailfish has been considered to be among the fastest aquatic animal. However, there is one fish that can challenge sailfish for the fastest swimmer title race, known as black marlin.

Many studies have shown that the black marlin swims at a speed of 120 fps or 82 mph (132 kph).

Sailfish have been measured to swim speed of 68 mph (109.44 kph), for it has the ability to leap in the air, which is less dense as compared to water which helps them cover more distance.

Comparison has been made by researchers between a sailfish and Michael Phelps, in which they found that even the fastest swimmer could not outswim a sailfish who can swim 656.17 ft (200 m) in just 10 secs, whereas Phelps had the exact time of 1 min 42 seconds to cover the 656.17 ft (200 m) race.

Learn about the amazing feats that humans have achieved in the pool

How fast can a human swim 2.4 miles?

Humans can swim at a pace of 6 mph (9.66 kph). This was recorded by Michael Phelps, the international swimming race champion and an Olympic gold medalist.

However, Caeleb Dressel has beat Michael as he can swim 328.08 ft (100 m) in 0.61 seconds and 164.04 ft (50 m) in 0.59 seconds in freestyle swimming.

He is the fastest swimmer known to date and is the FINA worlds champion. However, the standard 656 ft (200 m) race, can be covered in 1.42 minutes, as per the record set by Michael Phelps.

To swim in the water, humans need to work on their stamina, endurance, movement, and breathing technique. The more one can stay underwater, the faster one can swim.

The more they can flip their legs the faster they are able to move forward. Adding to that, the breathing techniques are majorly how the best swimmers beat the rest in time.

It is the technique through which one can stay underwater and cover more distance than popping out in between which takes time energy effort and stamina away while competing.

How fast can a human swim in yards per second?

An average human being can swim at a speed of 6 seconds for 45 yd (41 m). However, swimmers who are better at it can cover it in 5 seconds or 4.5 seconds.

The speed for female adults is different, they swim at 5.5 seconds if they are good at it or an average will swim at 6.5 seconds for 40-45 yd (36.5-41 m).

Humans have been participating in swim races and competitions and winning medals for the last two centuries.

It is a game of speed and technique which a human body can endure and beat or get better with practice. It involves breathing technique which is crucial, leg movement and flips which helps in cutting the water and moving forwards, as well as building endurance and stamina.

To increase speed it is best to use flippers while practicing as it helps build endurance and pace.

Water is heavy it takes a lot of energy first to push through and move forward.

If a human runs for 30 minutes and swims for 30 minutes the energy and calories consumed in the water during swimming are more than running on land.

While running we move through the air and run which is way lighter than water whereas in swimming one has to make way through the water to move forward which as an element is quite heavy.

Swimming doesn't only help exactly in reducing weight but also tones an individual's body with each splash of water hitting the body.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions forhow fast can a human swim, then why not take a look at what's the truth: are sponges animals or how hot are serrano peppers?

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Written by Martha Martins

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha Martins picture

Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.

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