2025 SWIM OPEN STOCKHOLM
After nearly 16 years, Paul Biedermann’s super-suited 400 freestyle world record of 3:40.07 has finally fallen. 23-year-old Lukas Märtens scorched a 3:39.96 to shave 0.11 off the longstanding mark during today’s Stockholm Open. Märtens had previously ranked as the 4th-fastest man in history before today’s world record performance.
Just like in the Olympic final—where Märtens claimed gold with a winning time of 3:41.78—he took the race out aggressively, flipping at 1:47.55 at the halfway turn. That split was nearly 3.5 seconds under Biedermann’s world record pace and more than a second quicker than his own personal best pace, which was already just 0.26 off Biedermann’s mark.
See the full splits breakdown between the new and old world records below, in addition to Märtens’ previous best time.
Splits Comparison:
| Märtens’ New World Record | Biedermann’s Former World Record | Märtens’ Previous Best Time | |
| 50m | 24.75 | 26.29 | 25.00 |
| 100m | 27.15 (51.90) | 28.13 (54.42) | 27.37 (52.37) |
| 150m | 27.75 | 28.01 | 27.87 |
| 200m | 27.90 (55.65/1:47.55) | 28.59 (56.60/1:51.02) | 28.35 (56.22/1:48.59) |
| 250m | 28.28 | 27.76 | 28.21 |
| 300m | 28.18 (56.46) | 28.39 (56.15) | 28.01 (56.22) |
| 350m | 28.38 | 27.13 | 28.12 |
| 400m | 27.57 (55.95/1:52.41) | 25.77 (52.90/1:49.05) | 27.40 (55.52/1:51.74) |
| Total Time | 3:39.96 | 3:40.07 | 3:40.33 |
Top 10 Men’s LCM 400 Freestyle Performers All-Time:
- Lukas Märtens (GER) – 3:39.96, 2025
- Paul Biedermann (GER) – 3:40.07, 2009
- Ian Thorpe (AUS) – 3:40.08, 2002
- Sun Yang (CHN) – 3:40.14, 2012
- Sam Short (AUS) – 3:40.68, 2023
- Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN) – 3:40.70, 2023
- Ous Mellouli (TUN) – 3:41.11, 2009
- Elijah Winnington (AUS) – 3:41.22, 2022
- Lin Zhang (CHN) – 3:41.35, 2009
- Park Tae Hwan (KOR) – 3:41.53, 2010
Märtens’ swim today was significant not just for breaking a long-standing record, but because Biedermann’s 2009 record was set in a now-banned super-suit. That era saw suits made with polyurethane, drastically reducing drag and leading to a wave of world records—67 in 2009 alone. The use of these suits helped swimmers achieve faster finishes, which is part of the reason why Märtens was so far ahead of record pace through the front half of his race. In 2010, World Aquatics banned such suits, requiring swimsuits to be made only from textile materials.
Biedermann congratulated Märtens on his swim on Instagram today, saying, “Congratulations! What an incredible performance. I am so happy that the record stays in Saxony-Anhalt.”
Before Biedermann dipped under the record, Australian legend Ian Thorpe held it with his 3:40.08 from 2002.
Märtens narrowed his focus in 2024, and the results have followed. Previously juggling the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 free events, the Bernd Berkhan-trained star shifted his emphasis to the 200 and 400 free last year and quickly reaped the rewards.
After earning three consecutive World Championship medals in the 400 free—silver in 2022 and bronze in both 2023 and 2024—Märtens captured the aforementioned Olympic gold in Paris, following his #4 all-time performance at the German Open. That performance made him the swiftest man in the world last year in the event. At the same meet, he clocked a personal best of 1:44.14 in the 200 free, ranking him #2 globally. In Paris, the now 23-year-old finished 5th in the 200 free and also reached the final of the 200 backstroke, placing 8th in 1:55.97.
Highlights Video:
*We will embed a full race video when one becomes available.
