The first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908. In short course pools, the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
Kristel Arianne Köbrich Schimpl is an Olympic long-distance freestyle swimmer from Chile. She was the country's flag bearer at the 2004 Olympics, and has participated in six consecutive Olympic Games: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.
The first world record in the women's 800 metres freestyle in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1931. The women's 880 yard freestyle had been a FINA-recognized world record event since 1919. However, in 1931 FINA decreed that only performances from 1931 onward would be eligible for world record consideration in the 800 metres freestyle. Thus Helene Madison's 1930 world record of 11:41.2 in the 880 yard freestyle was not considered a world record in the 800 metres freestyle even though it was over a longer distance and substantially faster than Yvonne Godard's 1931 world record of 12:18.8 in the 800 metres freestyle. In 1933, Lenore Kight swam the 880 yard freestyle in 11:44.0, which FINA recognised as a world record in the 800 metres freestyle but not in the 880 yard freestyle. This irregularity was finally resolved in 1935, when Kight's 11:34.4 in the 880 yard freestyle broke the records for both the 880 yard freestyle and the 800 metres freestyle. Because of this situation, the world records for the 880 yard freestyle for women from 1919 to 1930 are included below.
Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is an American competitive swimmer. She has won nine Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. With 14 medals and 9 gold medals, she is also the most decorated American woman, most decorated female swimmer, the female with the most gold medals and fifth-most decorated athlete in Olympic history. She has won a record 16 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. Ledecky's eight individual medals at the Olympics and 26 overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships are records in women's swimming. Ledecky is the world record holder in the women's 800- and 1500-meter freestyle, as well as the former world record holder in the women's 400-meter freestyle. She also holds the fastest-ever times in the women's 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. She is widely regarded as the greatest female swimmer of all time and one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
Ariarne Elizabeth Titmus is an Australian swimmer. She is the reigning Olympic champion in the women's 400-metre freestyle, having won the event at the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2024 Summer Olympics and the world record holder in the long course 200-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle events. In 2019 and 2020, she competed representing the Cali Condors in the International Swimming League.
The women's 400 metre freestyle event at the 2020 Summer Olympics was held from 25 to 26 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It was the event's twenty-third consecutive appearance, having been held at every edition since 1924.
The women's 800 metre freestyle event at the 2020 Summer Olympics was held from 29 to 31 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. It was the event's 14th consecutive appearance, having been held at every edition since 1968.
Erica Marie Sullivan is a retired American swimmer. She received a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics after placing second and qualifying in the event at the 2020 US Olympic Swimming Trials.
Kathryn Eileen Grimes is an American competitive swimmer. At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships, she won silver medals in the 1500 meter freestyle and the 400 meter individual medley. She placed fourth in the 800 meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she was the youngest member of the US Olympic Team at 15 years of age.
Summer Ann McIntosh is a Canadian competitive swimmer. She is a three-time Olympic champion, four-time World Aquatics champion, and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Noted for her strength in medley and butterfly events, she is the current world record holder in the 400 metre individual medley, and also holds the Olympic and textile records in the 200 metre butterfly event, and the Olympic record in the 200 metre individual medley.
This article details the qualifying phase for swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics. 852 swimmers will compete in thirty-five swimming pool events at the Games, with forty-four more racing through the 10-kilometre open water marathon. The qualification window for swimming pool events will occur between 1 March 2023 and 23 June 2024.
The men's 50 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held from 1 to 2 August 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
The men's 100 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held on 30 and 31 July 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
The women's 100 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held on 30 and 31 July 2024 at the Olympic Aquatics Centre at Paris La Défense Arena.
The men's 200 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held on 28 and 29 July 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
The women's 200 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held on 28 and 29 July 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre. This will be the fifteenth running of the event since the first in 1968.
The women's 400 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held on 27 July at the Paris Aquatics Centre. 23 swimmers took part.
The men's 800 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held on 29 and 30 July 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
The women's 800 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held from 2 to 3 August 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
The men's 1500 metre freestyle event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held from 3 to 4 August 2024 at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
