World Records — 200 m Women

The 200 m Women world record stands at 21.34, set by Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) in 1988. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

Record progression

Mark over the years. The higher the curve, the better the record.

2224261940196019802000202026.0 · Edwards21.34 · Griffith-Joyner

Record History

1988Florence Griffith-JoynerCurrentUSA+1.2Sep 29, 1988Seoul, South KoreaOngoing21.34-0.22s
1988Florence Griffith-JoynerUSA+1.7Sep 29, 1988Seoul, South KoreaEqualled21.56-0.15s
1986Heike DrechslerGDR—Aug 29, 1986Stuttgart, West Germany2.1 years21.71—
1986Heike DrechslerGDR+1.9Jun 29, 1986Jena, East Germany2 months21.71—
1984Marita KochGDR+0.3Jul 21, 1984Potsdam, East Germany23 months21.71—
1979Marita KochGDR+0.7Jun 10, 1979Karl Marx Stadt, East Germany5.1 years21.71-0.31s
1979Marita KochGDR—Jun 3, 1979Leipzig, East Germany7 d22.02-0.04s
1978Marita KochGDR+1.2May 28, 1978Erfurt, East Germany12 months22.06-0.04s
1974Irena SzewińskaPOL+1.9Jun 13, 1974Potsdam, Germany4 years22.1-0.11s
1974Irena SzewińskaPOL+1.9Jun 13, 1974Potsdam, East GermanyEqualled22.21+0.11s
1973Renate StecherGDR+1.6Jul 21, 1973Dresden, Germany11 months22.1-0.30s
1972Renate StecherGDR+1.1Sep 7, 1972Munich, Germany10 months22.4—
1970Cheng ChiTPE+0.8Jul 12, 1970Munich2.2 years22.4-0.10s
1968Irena SzewińskaPOL+2.0Oct 18, 1968Mexico City21 months22.5-0.20s
1965Irena SzewińskaPOL+0.8Aug 8, 1965Warsaw, Poland3.2 years22.7-0.20s
1960Wilma RudolphUSA+1.4Jul 9, 1960Corpus Christi, USA5.1 years22.9-0.30s
1956Betty CuthbertAUS—Sep 16, 1956Sydney, Australia3.8 years23.2-0.20s
1952Marjorie JacksonAUS—Jul 25, 1952Helsinki, Finland4.1 years23.4-0.20s
1952Marjorie JacksonAUS—Jul 25, 1952Helsinki, FinlandEqualled23.6—
1935Stanisława WalasiewiczPOL—Aug 4, 1935Warsaw, Poland17 years23.6-1.00s
1933Tollien SchuurmanNED—Aug 13, 1933Brussels, Belgium24 months24.6-0.80s
1927Eileen EdwardsGBR—Jun 12, 1927Berlin, Germany6.2 years25.4-0.60s
1926Eileen EdwardsGBR—Oct 3, 1926Paris, France8 months26.0—
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) holds the 200 m Women world record with 21.34, set on September 29, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.

Heike Drechsler (Germany) held it with 21.71, from August 29, 1986 until September 29, 1988 (2 years).

Elite Trackr's progression lists 22 improvements since 1926, when Eileen Edwards set 26.0.