Swimming at the Summer Olympics

Last updated

Swimming at the Summer Olympics
Swimming pictogram.svg
IOC CodeSWM
OWS (Marathon Swimming)
Governing body World Aquatics
Events37 (men: 18; women: 18; mixed: 1)
Summer Olympics

Swimming has been a sport at every modern Summer Olympics. It has been open to women since 1912. At the Olympics, swimming has the second-highest number of medal-contested events (after athletics).

Contents

Summary

GamesYearEventsBest nation
1 1896 4Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary (1)
2 1900 7Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain (1)
3 1904 9Flag of the German Empire.svg  Germany (1)
4 1908 6Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain (2)
5 1912 9Flag of the German Empire.svg  Germany (2)
6
7 1920 10US flag 48 stars.svg  United States (1)
8 1924 11US flag 48 stars.svg  United States (2)
9 1928 11US flag 48 stars.svg  United States (3)
10 1932 11Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan (1)
11 1936 11Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan (2)
12
13
14 1948 11US flag 48 stars.svg  United States (4)
15 1952 11US flag 48 stars.svg  United States (5)
16 1956 13Flag of Australia.svg  Australia (1)
17 1960 15Flag of the United States.svg  United States (6)
18 1964 18Flag of the United States.svg  United States (7)
19 1968 29Flag of the United States.svg  United States (8)
20 1972 29Flag of the United States.svg  United States (9)
21 1976 26Flag of the United States.svg  United States (10)
22 1980 26Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany (1)
23 1984 29Flag of the United States.svg  United States (11)
24 1988 31Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany (2)
25 1992 31Flag of the United States.svg  United States (12)
26 1996 32Flag of the United States.svg  United States (13)
27 2000 32Flag of the United States.svg  United States (14)
28 2004 32Flag of the United States.svg  United States (15)
29 2008 34Flag of the United States.svg  United States (16)
30 2012 34Flag of the United States.svg  United States (17)
31 2016 34Flag of the United States.svg  United States (18)
32 2020 37Flag of the United States.svg  United States (19)
33 2024 37Flag of the United States.svg  United States (20)

Long-course swimming

Men's events

Current programme
Event 96 1900 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 2000 04 08 12 16 20 24 Years
50 metres freestyle X [1] Not yet reintroduced X X X X X X X X X X 11
100 metres freestyle X X [1] X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 29
200 metres freestyle ( details ) X X [1] Not yet reintroduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
400 metres freestyle X [1] X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 28
800 metre freestyle X [1] Not yet reintroduced X X 3
1500 metre freestyle X [1] X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 28
100 metre backstroke X [1] X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 27
200 metre backstroke X Not yet reintroduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
100 metre breaststroke Not yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14
200 metre breaststroke X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 27
100 metre butterfly Not yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
200 metre butterflyNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18
200 metre individual medley Not yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13
400 metre individual medleyNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
4 × 100 metre freestyle relayNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 14
4 × 200 metre freestyle relay X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 27
4 × 100 metre medley relayNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
Events1276666666667810151513131516161616161616161717

Past events

Women's events

Current programme
Event 96 1900 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 2000 04 08 12 16 20 24 Years
50 metre freestyleNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X 10
100 metre freestyleNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
200 metre freestyle ( details )Not yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
400 metre freestyleNot yet introduced X [2] X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 25
800 metre freestyleNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
1500 metre freestyleNot yet introduced X X 2
100 metre backstrokeNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
200 metre backstrokeNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
100 metre breaststrokeNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
200 metre breaststrokeNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 24
100 metre butterflyNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18
200 metre butterflyNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
200 metre individual medleyNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13
400 metre individual medleyNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
4 × 100 metre freestyle relayNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 26
4 × 200 metre freestyle relayNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X 8
4 × 100 metre medley relayNot yet introduced X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
Events23555555678141413131415151616161616161717

Mixed events

Current programme
Event 96 1900 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 2000 04 08 12 16 20 24 Years
4 × 100 metre medley relayNot yet introduced X X 2
Events11

Medal table

Last updated after the 2020 Summer Olympics [3]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)257178144579
2Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)697073212
3Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)38322292
4Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)28262074
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)24273283
6Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)20293079
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)19201958
8Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)16211249
9Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)13183061
10Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)12212659
11Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)9182754
12Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)9161439
13Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)8161943
14Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)77620
15Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)63110
16Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)561526
17Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)49922
18Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)4329
19Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)351422
20Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)35715
21Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROU)3249
22Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)3014
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia  (TUN)3014
24Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe  (ZIM)2417
25Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia  (ANZ)2338
26Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)2248
27Russian Olympic Committee flag.png  ROC (ROC)2215
28Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)2136
29Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)16512
30Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)15612
31Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)141015
32Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)1326
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)1326
34Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea  (KOR)1315
35Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)1225
36Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica  (CRC)1124
37Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina  (ARG)1113
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)1113
39Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia  (YUG)1102
40Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)1012
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname  (SUR)1012
42Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)1001
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania  (LTU)1001
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore  (SIN)1001
45Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus  (BLR)0213
46Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong  (HKG)0202
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia  (SVK)0202
48Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0145
49Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)0112
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)0112
51Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia  (CRO)0101
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia  (SRB)0101
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)0101
54Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)0033
55Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHI)0022
56Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago  (TRI)0011
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela  (VEN)0011
Totals (57 entries)5895865881,763

Marathon swimming

Events

Event 96 1900 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 2000 04 08 12 16 20 24 Years
Men's 10 kmNot yet introduced X X X X X 5
Women's 10 kmNot yet introduced X X X X X 5
Events22222

Medal table

Last updated after the 2024 Summer Olympics [4]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)4105
2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)2114
3Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)1214
4Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)1012
5Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)1001
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia  (TUN)1001
7Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0213
8Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)0134
9Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)0112
10Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)0101
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)0101
12Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0011
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0011
Totals (13 entries)10101030

Overall medal table

Last updated after the 2024 Summer Olympics

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)265192151608
2Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)767977232
3Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)38322292
4Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)32282181
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)24283284
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)23212165
7Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)21353187
8Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)18241961
9Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)15203267
10Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)12212659
11Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)12203163
12Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)12172251
13Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)11161441
14Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)88622
15Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)782035
16Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)63110
17Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)59923
18Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine  (UKR)4329
19Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROU)42511
20Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)4037
21Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)351422
22Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)35715
23Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia  (TUN)3014
24Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)241117
25Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe  (ZIM)2417
26Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia  (ANZ)2338
27Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)2248
28Russian Olympic Committee flag.png  ROC (ROC)2215
29Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)2136
30Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)16512
31Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)15612
32Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)1528
33Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)1326
34Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea  (KOR)1315
35Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)1225
36Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica  (CRC)1124
37Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina  (ARG)1113
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)1113
39Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia  (YUG)1102
40Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)1012
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname  (SUR)1012
42Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)1001
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania  (LTU)1001
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore  (SIN)1001
45Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong  (HKG)0224
46Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus  (BLR)0213
47Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia  (SVK)0202
48Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)0145
49Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)0112
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)0112
51Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia  (CRO)0101
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia  (SRB)0101
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)0101
54Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)0044
55Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHI)0022
56Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago  (TRI)0011
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela  (VEN)0011
Totals (57 entries)6336326311,896

Nations

Nation 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 20 24 Years
Flag of Afghanistan.svg  Afghanistan  (AFG)112
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania  (ALB)12222227
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria  (ALG)511365113210
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa  (ASA)22214
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra  (AND)1221226
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola  (ANG)5831212222211
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda  (ANT)2122226
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina  (ARG)4451177378456237131011455322
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia  (ARM)121122228
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba  (ARU)2122226
Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia  (ANZ)592
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)165555101026263224242817312533334441434739374426
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)2311838231073215662486121167526
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan  (AZE)1241222228
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas  (BAH)22121444132212
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain  (BRN)222221228
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh  (BAN)211222122210
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados  (BAR)1112344122111
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus  (BLR)109988867
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)17512656106326410747749713102425
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin  (BEN)2222226
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda  (BER)55211611212212
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan  (BHU)112
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia  (BOL)1122222222211
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina  (BIH)2221122229
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana  (BOT)22124
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)28161312454412997159101323251936272023
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands  (IVB)112
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei  (BRU)1123
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)33513851664435414
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso  (BUR)1222226
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi  (BDI)2122226
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia  (CAM)4222222229
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon  (CMR)122225
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)113261414998812153838373129273920273330262926
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde  (CPV)222
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands  (CAY)3222226
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic  (CAF)12124
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile  (CHI)4411232122211
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)211142416212128425145303214
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei  (TPE)14358813135323213
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia  (COL)23194521115535342218
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros  (COM)11224
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo  (CGO)1222122129
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands  (COK)122125
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica  (CRC)1121813212212214
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia  (CRO)1117131342238
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)2221323722122214
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus  (CYP)422752122210
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)49133423313156817
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic  (CZE)106121068958
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo  (COD)122
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)15145218692433621315810769101511727
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti  (DJI)11224
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica  (DMA)1223
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic  (DOM)1122226
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)24372330265
Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor  (TLS)222
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador  (ECU)311215312334313
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt  (EGY)16328522623374315
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador  (ESA)147212111222212
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea  (GEQ)2113
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea  (ERI)122
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia  (EST)24146922328
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)22114
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji  (FIJ)3532211222211
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)36121121131563111211212775785227
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)47431320135817161619916181613162525251921353130273328
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon  (GAB)1223
Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia  (GAM)1123
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia  (GEO)11212227
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)6451719224918263824283535253029312520
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana  (GHA)2223
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)725181826211522322622323327364032333128393237244428323328
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)151152252234281428181415121720
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada  (GRN)1212226
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam  (GUM)4721113229
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala  (GUA)136152141122213
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea  (GUI)21212227
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau  (GBS)11
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana  (GUY)1122226
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti  (HAI)12224
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras  (HON)6341222222211
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong  (HKG)421332481083974379718
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)11210868513151516181914168131313211825283235342328
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland  (ISL)8224434623978732217
Olympic flag.svg  Independent Olympic Participants  (IOP)41
Flag of India.svg  India  (IND)175212214123212
Olympic flag.svg  Independent Olympic Athletes  (IOA)21
Individual Neutral Athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics Flag.svg  Individual Neutral Athletes  (AIN)41
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia  (INA)1321121632122213
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran  (IRI)1111111119
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq  (IRQ)211115
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)2474325254234391216
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel  (ISR)11426123144102757132818
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)2424652107231610241313262124142129343538384026
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast  (CIV)212215
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)114143122210
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)2610232122192138201515222325272120312936352923
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan  (JOR)222222228
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)78111273128
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)122222228
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo  (KOS)2223
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait  (KUW)2352332122211
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan  (KGZ)12186322128
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos  (LAO)12212227
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia  (LAT)1445222229
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon  (LIB)122441252222213
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho  (LES)11
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya  (LBA)42212127
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein  (LIE)1222
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania  (LTU)28610946679
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg  (LUX)24341141121324132117
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia  (MKD)444222228
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar  (MAD)312222222210
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi  (MAW)2212226
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia  (MAS)227211215945232216
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives  (MDV)2122222229
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali  (MLI)22222127
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta  (MLT)122222228
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands  (MHL)222225
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania  (MTN)11
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius  (MRI)6222222229
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)39841110272297121072766934621
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia  (FSM)22222227
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova  (MDA)510322227
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco  (MON)1111111229
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia  (MGL)21222227
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro  (MNE)12224
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco  (MAR)11112227
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique  (MOZ)52231222222212
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar  (MYA)1111116
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia  (NAM)211115
Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal  (NEP)222222228
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)4741214514121319261719151216119202416181517162024
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  Netherlands Antilles  (AHO)311215
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)1141252469871114813151797921
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua  (NCA)211222222210
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger  (NIG)21212227
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  (NGR)22222127
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)5211113147326514324320
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman  (OMA)114115
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan  (PAK)4231122222211
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau  (PLW)21112227
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine  (PLE)11222227
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama  (PAN)131112222122213
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea  (PNG)21221227
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay  (PAR)32221222229
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru  (PER)363345222322322316
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHI)235318827734452455222222
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)2471545385141187151920172119
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal  (POR)114535221291271110759518
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico  (PUR)149125367364222215
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar  (QAT)11122217
Flag of Rhodesia.svg  Rhodesia  (RHO)41
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROU)1222352510141176464317
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)4302830353536368
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda  (RWA)22222227
Flag of Saar (1947-1956).svg  Saar  (SAA)11
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Nations412414171923282029344833454251525141677792117150152162166169182194
Swimmers19763210012011611818212824824931923538040546853247133349463364176295493710269509501000852
Year 96 00 04 08 12 20 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 20 24

Olympic records

The International Olympic Committee recognize the best performances in all 35 current swimming events at the Games as Olympic records.

Notable changes to the sport

Times have consistently dropped over the years due to better training techniques and new developments within the sport.

In the first four Olympics, competitions were not held in pools, but rather in open water (1896, the Mediterranean Sea; 1900, the Seine; 1904, an artificial lake; 1906, the Mediterranean). The 1904 Olympics' races were the only ones ever measured in yards, instead of the usual metres. A 100-metre pool was built for the 1908 Olympics and was located in the centre of the main stadium's track and field oval. The 1912 Olympics, held in the Stockholm harbor, marked the beginning of electrical timing.

Male swimmers wore full body swimsuits up until the 1940s, which caused more drag in the water than their modern swim-wear counterparts. Also, over the years, pool designs have lessened the drag. Some design considerations allow for the reduction of swimming resistance making the pool faster, namely, proper pool depth, elimination of waves, elimination of currents, increased lane width, energy absorbing racing lane lines and gutters, and the use of other innovative hydraulic, acoustic, illumination, and swimwear designs.

The 1924 Olympics were the first to use the standard 50-metre pool with marked lanes (a standard that remains to this day). In the freestyle, swimmers originally dove from the pool walls, but diving blocks were first incorporated at the 1936 Summer Olympics. The flip-turn was developed by the 1950s. Swimming goggles were first allowed in 1976.

The butterfly stroke events were not held until 1956. Previous rules permitted the butterfly stroke in breaststroke races. After 1956, when these rules were changed, butterfly became its own stroke entirely.

The 800m event was added to the women's programme in 1968; whilst longer, this event was not as far as the men's 1,500m event. This discrepancy was evened out in 2020: that year, the 1,500 metres was included in the women's programme for the first time and the 800 metres freestyle was added to the men's programme.

Both men and women were granted the 200 metres freestyle race in 1968, giving swimmers an intermediate distance race between 100 metres and 400 metres.

The women's 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay race was added in 1996—a men's relay race at that distance had been held since 1912; interestingly, the winning time for the women's 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay in 1996 was more than two minutes faster than the men's 4 × 200 metres freestyle relay of 1912. At six Games, the men had two freestyle relay races, while the women had one. Starting with 1996, both genders have two.

The medley relay races (4 × 100 metres) were not held for men or for women until 1960, but they have continued in every Games since then.

Starting in 2008, both men and women compete in 10 km open water marathon swim events.

The mixed 4 × 100 metres medley relay (2 women and 2 men) was added to the programme in the 2020 Olympic Games.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Distances at the 1904 Olympics were measured in yards rather than metres. The 50 yard freestyle was 45.7 metres and the 100 yard freestyle and backstroke races were 91.4 metres. The 220, 440, and 880 yard freestyle races were 201, 402, and 805 metres, respectively. Instead of a 1500 metre race, there was a 1 mile race which made for 1609 metres. The 440 yard breaststroke, like the freestyle, was 402 metres. The relay, 4 × 50 yards, was 4 × 45.7 metres.
  2. In 1920, the women's event was 300 metres.
  3. "Olympic Analytics - Medals by Countries". olympanalyt.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  4. "Olympic Analytics - Medals by Countries". olympanalyt.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.

See also

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References