Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships

Last updated

Michael Phelps--pictured here (right) at the 2005 World Championships--won 26 World Championships gold medals - more than any other athlete. 2005 FINA World Championships - victory lap of the 100 m butterfly.jpg
Michael Phelps—pictured here (right) at the 2005 World Championships—won 26 World Championships gold medals – more than any other athlete.

The aquatics discipline of swimming is considered the flagship event at every edition of the World Aquatics Championships since its introduction in 1973. While open water swimming events were added to the program in 1991, it is considered a separate discipline to swimming.

Contents

Championships

Member federations referred to as winners, second, and third, in the table below, are the top three nation's listed on the medal tally based on the standard method of ranking (being total gold medals, followed by total silver medals, and then total bronze medals). This table includes medals won both in long course swimming and in open water swimming.

YearDateEditionLocationEvents (men/women/mixed)Winner of the medal tableSecond in the medal tableThird in the medal table
Long courseOpen water
197331 August – 9 September 1 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Belgrade, Yugoslavia 15 / 14 / 00 / 0 / 0Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
197519–27 July 2 Flag of Colombia.svg Cali, Colombia 15 / 14 / 00 / 0 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
197820–28 August 3 Flag of Germany.svg West Berlin, West Germany 15 / 14 / 00 / 0 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
198229 July – 8 August 4 Flag of Ecuador.svg Guayaquil, Ecuador 15 / 14 / 00 / 0 / 0Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
198613–23 August 5 Flag of Spain.svg Madrid, Spain 16 / 16 / 00 / 0 / 0Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
19913–13 January 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth, Australia 16 / 16 / 01 / 1 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
19941–11 September 7 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, Italy 16 / 16 / 01 / 1 / 0Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
19988–17 January 8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Perth, Australia 16 / 16 / 02 / 2 / 2Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
200116–29 July 9 Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka, Japan 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 0Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
200312–27 July 10 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona, Spain 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
200516–31 July 11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal, Canada 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
200718 March – 1 April 12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne, Australia 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of Russia.svg  Russia (2)
200917 July – 2 August 13 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, Italy 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
201116–31 July 14 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai, China 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
201319 July – 4 August 15 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona, Spain 20 / 20 / 03 / 3 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of France.svg  France
201524 July – 9 August 16 Flag of Russia.svg Kazan, Russia 20 / 20 / 23 / 3 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
201714–30 July 17 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary 20 / 20 / 23 / 3 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of France.svg  France Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
201912–28 July 18 Flag of South Korea.svg Gwangju, South Korea 20 / 20 / 23 / 3 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (7)Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary (2)
202218 June – 3 July 19 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary 20 / 20 / 23 / 3 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
202314–30 July 20 Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka, Japan 20 / 20 / 22 / 2 / 1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (3)
20242–18 February 21 Flag of Qatar.svg Doha, Qatar 20 / 20 / 22 / 2 / 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States (15)Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (3)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (5)
202511 July – 3 August 22 Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore 20 / 20 / 23 / 3 / 1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (3)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States (6)Flag of Germany.svg  Germany (3)
2027TBA23 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary TBATBATBATBATBA
2029TBA24 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing, China TBATBATBATBATBA

Events

The number of events competed for at each edition of the championships has grown steadily through the years. In 1973, 29 events were swum: 15 for men and 14 for women, all in the pool. Since 2015, the combined number of events for men and women including pool and open water events has been 49, a drastic increase compared to the first edition. Historically, 53 different events have been held across the 22 editions of the championships.

Long course

Long course events have been competed since the inaugural edition of the championships in 1973. The youngest male swimmer to participate in the World Swimming Championships was Ahnt Khaung Htut [1] from Myanmar, who was 12 years old in 2015. He took part at the 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke events. The youngest female swimmer to participate in the World Swimming Championships was 10-year-old Alzain Tareq [2] from Bahrain in 2015. She participated at the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events.

Men's events

Edition 1973 1975 1978 1982 1986 1991 1994 1998 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
Freestyle50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
400 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
800 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
1500 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Backstroke50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Breaststroke50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Butterfly50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Individual
medley		200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
400 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Relays4×100 m freestyle X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
4×200 m freestyle X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
4×100 m medley X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Number of events15151515161616162020202020202020202020202020

Women's events

Edition 1973 1975 1978 1982 1986 1991 1994 1998 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
Freestyle50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
400 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
800 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
1500 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Backstroke50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Breaststroke50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Butterfly50 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
100 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Individual
medley		200 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
400 m X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Relays4×100 m freestyle X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
4×200 m freestyle X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
4×100 m medley X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Number of events14141414161616162020202020202020202020202020

Mixed events

Edition 2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
Relays4×100 m freestyle X X X X X X X
4×100 m medley X X X X X X X
Number of events2222222

Open water

Open water events have been competed since the sixth edition of the championships in 1991.

Men's events

Edition 1991 1994 1998 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
3 km knockout sprints X
5 km X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
10 km X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
25 km X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Number of events11233333333333223

Women's events

Edition 1991 1994 1998 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
3 km knockout sprints X
5 km X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
10 km X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
25 km X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Number of events11233333333333223

Mixed events

Edition 1998 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2024 2025
5 km team X X X X X X
6 km team X X X X
25 km team X
Number of events200000111111111

Medalists

A select number of athletes have won medals at both long course and open water events, including Oussama Mellouli from Tunisia, Hayley Lewis from Australia, Gregorio Paltrinieri from Italy, Florian Wellbrock from Germany, and Sharon van Rouwendaal from the Netherlands. For a full list of medalists covering all editions of the championships see List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men) and List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women). For a complete list of medal winners in open water swimming see List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in open water swimming.

All-time medal table

Updated after the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.

Long course (1973–2025)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 263216159638
2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 10911375297
3Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 643761162
4Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 504025115
5Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 36192984
6Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 28244799
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 27343596
8Flag of France.svg  France 26243080
9Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 244140105
10Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 20362884
11Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 20201757
12Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 18254891
13Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 15303075
14Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1391739
15Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 11304182
16Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 11202152
17Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 9121031
18Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 871126
19Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 86721
20Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 6121230
21Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 63312
22Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 61714
23Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 57618
24Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 53311
25Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 49821
26Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 4239
27Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 3508
28  World Aquatics logomark 2.svg   Neutral Athletes B [a] 3418
29Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 3216
30Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 26816
31Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 2114
32Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 2103
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 2103
34Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 2002
35Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1214
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1214
37Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1135
38Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 1124
39Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1113
40Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 1001
41Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 08210
42Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 0448
43Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 0325
44Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 0202
45Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 0112
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 0112
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0112
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 0112
49Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 0101
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 0101
51Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0033
52Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 0022
53Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 0011
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0011
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 0011
  World Aquatics logomark 2.svg   Neutral Athletes A [b] 0011
  World Aquatics logomark 2.svg   Neutral Independent Athletes [c] 0011
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 0011
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 0011
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 0011
Totals (60 entries)8218308172,468

Open water (1991–2025)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 23171454
2Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 12172049
3Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1211932
4Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 109827
5Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 83920
6Flag of France.svg  France 710522
7Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 77519
8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 68822
9Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 26513
10Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2439
11Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 2125
12Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1315
13Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1113
14Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1034
15Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1012
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1012
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 1012
18Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1001
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 1001
20Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0101
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 0101
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador 0101
23Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 0011
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0011
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco 0011
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 0011
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 0011
Totals (27 entries)99100101300

Multiple medalists

Boldface denotes active swimmers and highest medal count among all swimmers (including these who not included in these tables) per type.

All events

RankSwimmerCountryGenderFromToGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M20012011 26 **61 33 **
2 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F20132025236130
3 Ryan Lochte Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M20052015 18 *5 4 * 27 **
4 Caeleb Dressel Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M20172022152–17
5 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden F20092024148325
6 Simone Manuel Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F20132025 13 *** 5 *2 20 ****
7 Lilly King Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F20172025 12 **2– 14 **
8 Mollie O'Callaghan Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia F20222025116–17
9 Missy Franklin Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F20112015112316
Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China M20092019112316

* including one medal in the relay event in which this swimmer participated in the heats only
** including two medals in the relay events in which this swimmer participated in the heats only
*** including three medals in the relay events in which this swimmer participated in the heats only
**** including four medals in the relay events in which this swimmer participated in the heats only

Individual events

RankSwimmerCountryGenderFromToGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Katie Ledecky Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States F20132025183122
2 Michael Phelps Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M20012011155–20
3 Sarah Sjöström Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden F20092024146323
4 Sun Yang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China M20092019112114
5 Ryan Lochte Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M20052015103316
6 Katinka Hosszú Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary F2009201991515
7 Florian Wellbrock Flag of Germany.svg  Germany M2019202582212
8 Summer McIntosh Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada F2022202581211
9 Caeleb Dressel Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M201720228––8
10 Grant Hackett Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia M1998200776114

World records

The World Championships have often been the occasion at which elite swimmers reach the peak of their season, and hence numerous world records are often broken.

EditionMenWomenMixedTotal
1973710Not held17
197514Not held5
1978410Not held14
198243Not held7
1986–6Not held6
19917–Not held7
199437Not held10
1998––Not held0
20018–Not held8
2003122Not held14
200554Not held9
200778Not held15
20091726Not held43
20112–Not held2
2013–6Not held6
201526311
201726311
201954110
20222–13
202327110
20241––1
20251113

Championship Records

See also

Note

  1. ↑ At the 2025 World Championships, in accordance with sanctions imposed following by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia were not permitted to use the name, flag, or anthem of Russia. They instead participated as "Neutral Athletes B (NAB)" and under the World Aquatics flag.
  2. ↑ At the 2025 World Championships, in accordance with sanctions imposed following by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Belarus were not permitted to use the name, flag, or anthem of Russia. They instead participated as "Neutral Athletes A (NAA)" and under the World Aquatics flag.
  3. ↑ At the 2024 World Championships, in accordance with sanctions imposed following by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Belarus were not permitted to use the name, flag, or anthem of Belarus. They instead participated as "Neutral Independent Athletes (NIA)" and under the World Aquatics flag.

References

  1. ↑ Matt Roebuck (4 August 2015). "Myanmar centre-stage at World Championships". Myanmar Times . Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "10-Year-Old Alzain Tareq Enjoying World Championship Experience". Swimming World Magazine . 8 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.