Average 25m Swim Times (By Age, Gender & Style)


If you’re a keen swimmer or looking to use swimming for fitness and weight loss, you’ll likely want to learn how long it takes the average person to swim 25 metres. Even though 25m isn’t a lengthy distance, it’s always fascinating to understand the average time to swim 25m.

You can use this to calculate your 25m swim time or estimate longer swimming distances. It would be best to look at the average times by age and, most importantly, your gender. I have all the data you need in this article.

Average Time to Swim 25m Front Crawl/Freestyle (Male)

On average, it takes a male is around 36 seconds to swim 25m using a front crawl/freestyle swimming technique. However, the average time will alter depending on your age, gender, swimming style and fitness level. 

The table below gives you a better estimate of the average time to swim 25m by age and gender. This table is for a front crawl or freestyle in an indoor swimming pool.

The time may change is you are swimming outdoors or in moving water like a river or the ocean.

AgeAverage Time to Swim 25m Front-crawl/Freestyle Male
15 -20 00:34
20-2500:31
25-3000:32
30-3500:33
35-4000:33
40-4500:34
45-5000:37
50-5500:38
55-6000:45
60-6500:46

Average Time to Swim 25m Front Crawl/Freestyle (Female)

On average, it takes a female around 39 seconds to swim 25m using a front crawl/freestyle swimming technique. However, the average time will alter depending on your age, gender, swimming style and fitness level. 

AgeAverage Time to Swim 25m Front-crawl/Freestyle Female 
15 -20 00:37
20-2500:35
25-3000:36
30-3500:36
35-4000:36
40-4500:37
45-5000:39
50-5500:45
55-6000:46
60-6500:50

25m Breaststroke Swim Time By Age (Male)

On average, it takes a male is around 44 seconds to swim 25m using a breaststroke swimming technique. However, the average time will alter depending on your age, gender, swimming style and fitness level. 

AgeAverage Time to Swim 25m Breaststroke Male
15 -20 00:42
20-2500:39
25-3000:40
30-3500:41
35-4000:41
40-4500:42
45-5000:45
50-5500:46
55-6000:53
60-6500:54

Other Swimming Distances You Might Find Helpful

25m Breaststroke Swim Time By Age (Female)

On average, it takes a female around 47 seconds to swim 25m using a breaststroke swimming technique. However, the average time will alter depending on your age, gender, swimming style and fitness level. 

AgeAverage Time to Swim 25m Breaststroke Female 
15 -20 00:45
20-2500:43
25-3000:44
30-3500:44
35-4000:44
40-4500:45
45-5000:47
50-5500:53
55-6000:54
60-6500:58

Swimming Times 25m Backstroke (Male)

On average, it takes a male is around 44 seconds to swim 25m using a backstrokes swimming technique. However, the average time will alter depending on your age, gender, swimming style and fitness level. 

AgeAverage Time to Swim 25m Backstroke Male
15 -20 00:38
20-2500:35
25-3000:36
30-3500:37
35-4000:37
40-4500:38
45-5000:41
50-5500:42
55-6000:49
60-6500:50

25m Backstroke Swimmers Time By Age (Female)

On average, it takes a female around 43 seconds to swim 25m using a backstroke swimming technique. However, the average time will alter depending on your age, gender, swimming style and fitness level. 

AgeAverage Time to Swim 25m Backstroke Female 
15 -20 00:41
20-2500:39
25-3000:40
30-3500:40
35-4000:40
40-4500:41
45-5000:43
50-5500:49
55-6000:50
60-6500:54

Understanding 25m Swim

When it comes to swimming, understanding swim times can be a bit confusing. Swim times are determined by a combination of factors, including the length of the pool, the swimming style used, and the age and skill level of the swimmer. In this section, we’ll break down the components of swim times and explain the importance of pool length and swimming styles.

Components of Swim Times

Swim times are made up of two main components: distance and time. The distance is measured in yards or meters, depending on the length of the pool. The time is measured in seconds, and is the amount of time it takes the swimmer to complete the distance. Average swimming speed is calculated by dividing the distance by the time.

Importance of Pool Length

The length of the pool is an important factor in determining swim times. In the United States, most pools are 25 yards long, while in the rest of the world, pools are typically 50 meters long. Swimmers who are used to swimming in 25-yard pools may find that their times are slower when swimming in a 50-meter pool, due to the increased distance.

Swimming Styles and Their Impact

There are four main swimming styles: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Each style has its own unique techniques and challenges, which can impact swim times. Freestyle, also known as front crawl, is the fastest and most efficient style, and is often used in competitive swimming.

Backstroke is slower than freestyle, but is easier for beginners to learn. Breaststroke is slower still, but is a good option for swimmers who are looking for a low-impact workout. Butterfly is the most challenging style, and requires a lot of strength and endurance.

In conclusion, understanding swim times requires an understanding of the components that make up swim times, as well as the impact of pool length and swimming styles. By keeping these factors in mind, swimmers can better understand their own swim times and work to improve their performance.

Factors Affecting Swimming Times

When it comes to swimming, there are several factors that can affect your swim time. Here are some of the main factors that can impact your average 25m swim time by age.

Gender Differences

Gender can play a significant role in determining swim times. Generally, men tend to swim faster than women due to their greater muscle mass and higher levels of testosterone. However, this is not always the case, as there are many women who are highly skilled swimmers and can outperform men in the pool.

Fitness and Endurance

Your fitness level and endurance can also have a big impact on your swim time. Swimmers who are in better shape and have higher levels of endurance will typically be able to swim faster and maintain their speed for longer periods of time. Regular cardiovascular exercise can help improve your fitness and endurance levels, which can lead to faster swim times.

Swimming Level and Experience

Your swimming level and experience can also affect your swim time. Beginners who are just starting out will typically have slower swim times than more experienced swimmers who have been training for years. Intermediate and advanced swimmers can improve their swim times through strength training, technique refinement, and other advanced training methods.

Overall, there are many factors that can affect your swim time, including your gender, fitness and endurance levels, and swimming level and experience. By focusing on these areas and working to improve your technique and overall fitness, you can improve your swim times and become a faster, more efficient swimmer.

Swimming Performance

When it comes to swimming, performance is often measured by the time it takes to complete a set distance. The average 25m swim time can vary greatly depending on age and level of experience.

For children under the age of 10, the average 25m swim time is around 20-30 seconds. As children grow and develop their swimming skills, their average time can improve significantly.

For teenagers and young adults, the average 25m swim time can range from 15-20 seconds for those who swim regularly and have developed their technique. However, for those who are new to swimming or have not had much practice, the average time can be closer to 25-30 seconds.

As we age, our swimming performance may decline due to changes in muscle mass and aerobic capacity. For adults over the age of 40, the average 25m swim time can range from 20-30 seconds depending on their level of fitness and swimming experience.

It’s important to remember that these are just average times and individual performance can vary greatly. By practicing regularly and focusing on improving technique, swimmers of all ages can improve their swimming performance and achieve faster times.

Masters Swimming

If you are over the age of 25 and looking to compete in swimming, Masters Swimming is the perfect option for you. Masters Swimming is a program that is designed for adult swimmers of all ages and abilities. It offers the opportunity to train, compete, and socialize with other swimmers in your age group.

Masters Swimming competitions are organized by age groups, starting at 18-24 and going up in five-year increments. The average 25m swim time for Masters Swimmers can vary greatly depending on age and skill level. However, the following table provides a rough estimate of average swim times for different age groups:

Age GroupAverage 25m Swim Time
25-2915-20 seconds
30-3416-21 seconds
35-3917-22 seconds
40-4418-23 seconds
45-4919-24 seconds
50-5420-25 seconds
55-5921-26 seconds
60-6422-27 seconds
65-6923-28 seconds
70-7424-29 seconds
75-7925-30 seconds
80-8426-31 seconds
85-8927-32 seconds

It’s important to note that these times are just estimates and can vary depending on factors such as training, technique, and overall fitness level. Additionally, Masters Swimming is not just about competition. It’s also a great way to stay active, meet new people, and improve your swimming skills.

If you are interested in joining a Masters Swimming program, check with your local swimming club or community center to see if they offer a program. Many programs welcome swimmers of all abilities and can provide coaching and training opportunities to help you improve your skills and reach your goals.

FAQs

1. How many calories are burned swimming 25m?

It is estimated that if you swim 25 meters, you’ll burn around 5 calories.

2. What tips can help me improve my swim times?

Tips to improve your swim time include focusing on effective stroke technique, building up strength and endurance through dry land exercises, getting adequate rest, and focusing on an even split among all four strokes.

3. Is 25m swimming enough to get fit?

Swimming 25m can be a great addition to any fitness regimen, but in order to fully reap the physical and mental benefits it is important to get into a regular routine of swimming longer distances. Doing this will help to improve your endurance and overall fitness levels.

4. What is the World record 25m swim time for freestyle?

The World record for the 25m swim in freestyle is 10.80 seconds, set by Australian Cate Campbell at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.

5. What is the World record 25m swim time for Breaststroke?

The World record for the 25m breaststroke is 11.50 seconds, set by American Adam Peaty at the 2018 European Championships.

6. What is the World record 25m swim time for Backstroke?

The World record for the 25m backstroke is 12.83 seconds, set by Italian Simone Sabbioni at the 2021 World Aquatics Championships.

7. What is the World record 25m swim time for Butterfly?

The World record for the 25m butterfly is 10.77 seconds, set by American Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Average Time to Swim 25m Summary

Hopefully you have enjoyed my article on the average time it takes to swim 25m. The average time is between 36 seconds and 47 seconds depending on your age, gender and which swimming style you use. Front-crawl or freestyle is the fastest method by around 4 seconds over backstroke. Breaststroke is the slowest method and can be more than 8 seconds longer than freestyle.

Recent Posts