record holder
Top achievement keeper
A record holder is someone who has achieved the best performance in a measurable category—fastest time, highest score, longest distance.
The term appears in sports, competitions, and official registries: She's the world record holder in the 100-meter dash.
Record holders retain the title until someone surpasses their mark.
Short-distance racing specialist
- marathonerRacer of 26.2 miles
- swimmerOne who moves through water
- weightlifterOne who hoists barbells
- gymnastBalance and flexibility athlete
track and field · medalist · decathlete · hurdler · pole vaulter · long jumper · shot putter · relay team
One's top performance
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- featRemarkable act of skill
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
breakthrough · victory · conquest · attainment · excellence · supremacy · dominance · preeminence
Institution honoring the best
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
- trophyAward for winning
- certificateFormal written attestation
- registryOfficial record of entries
commemorated · enshrined · honored · celebrated · acclaimed · legendary · iconic · immortalized
Level of quality accepted
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
- measureUnit of quantity
- baselineStandard for comparison
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
threshold · bar · mark · unbroken · surpassed · eclipsed · shattered · topped
One who came first
- successorOne who replaces another
- former championPrevious holder of title
- reigningHolding power now
- defendingProtecting against harm
longtime · consecutive · undisputed · dethroned · retired · comeback · dynasty · era
sprinter
Short-distance racing specialist
- marathonerRacer of 26.2 miles
- swimmerOne who moves through water
- weightlifterOne who hoists barbells
gymnast · track and field · medalist · decathlete · hurdler · pole vaulter · long jumper · shot putter · relay team · triathlete
personal best
One's top performance
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- featRemarkable act of skill
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
triumph · breakthrough · victory · conquest · attainment · excellence · supremacy · dominance · preeminence · all-time best
hall of fame
Institution honoring the best
- plaqueInscribed memorial tablet
- trophyAward for winning
- certificateFormal written attestation
registry · commemorated · enshrined · honored · celebrated · acclaimed · legendary · iconic · immortalized · distinguished
standard
Level of quality accepted
reference · threshold · bar · mark · unbroken · surpassed · eclipsed · shattered · topped · matched
predecessor
One who came first
- successorOne who replaces another
- former championPrevious holder of title
- reigningHolding power now
defending · longtime · consecutive · undisputed · dethroned · retired · comeback · dynasty · era · reign
- sports recordsworld records, speed records, Olympic records, track records, national records
- athletesathlete, Olympian, champion, swimmers, runner
- OlympicsOlympics, Olympic Games, Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, Olympic medal
- achieversachiever, high achiever, overachiever, go-getter, striver
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- elite performerssuperstar, virtuoso, all-star, MVP, maestro
record holderalso-ran
Unsuccessful competitor
runner-up · loser · bottom dweller · cellar dweller · underperformer