Ryan Held

USA

Ryan is a swimmer from the United States, a sprinter and a collegiate competitor, whose official competitive record spans 12 seasons, 9 countries and 64 meets.

His recorded career begins in 2014, and one of his earliest marks still on file is the 100 butterfly in 52.15, raced in Palo Alto.

His signature event is the 50 freestyle, the event he has raced the most, followed by the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Freestyle is the backbone of the whole record: 64 meets and 115 recorded swims.

His fastest 50 freestyle stands at 21.22, set in long course (50 m) at ISL 2019 Season.

His record includes world championships, between 2021 and 2023 (15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2021 and World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023). A representative mark at that level is 20.70 in the 50 freestyle, recorded in short course (25 m). He also appears in national championships and international meets.

The record runs unbroken from 2014 to 2025: 12 consecutive seasons without a single missing year. 2023 is the busiest season on record, with 26 verified individual swims.

He is a genuinely international swimmer: the official record spans 9 countries (the United States, Italy, Australia, Canada, Spain, Japan, Monaco, the United Arab Emirates and Hungary), including 10 of 64 meets outside the United States.

Those meets span 31 different venues (Indianapolis, San Antonio, Greensboro and Omaha…). He has raced for 8 clubs, led by Arizona State University - Summer/Club, North Carolina State University, Sun Devil Aquatics and USA Swimming.

Latest competition: 2025 National Championships in Indianapolis, on June 7, 2025, with 1 swim: 22.68 in the 50 freestyle, all in long course (50 m). He closes this record with 10 current event personal bests and 33 all-time PB improvements, across 166 verified official swims in competitions governed by World Aquatics.

Swimer