Swimming at the Summer Olympics

Last updated
Swimming at the Summer Olympics
Swimming pictogram.svg
IOC Discipline CodeSWM, OWS (Marathon Swimming)
Governing body FINA
Events37 (men: 18; women: 18; mixed: 1)
Games

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

Long-course swimming

Men's events

Current program
Event 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
50 metres freestyle X [1] 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] 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] 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 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
100 metre breaststroke 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 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
200 metre butterfly X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18
200 metre individual medley X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13
400 metre individual medley X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
4 × 100 metre freestyle relay 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 relay X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
Past events
Event 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
500 metre freestyle X 1
1000 metre freestyle X 1
1200 metre freestyle X 1
4000 metre freestyle X 1
400 metre breaststroke X [1] X X 3
4 × 50 yard freestyle relay X [1] 1
200 metre team swimming X 1
200 metre obstacle event X 1
Underwater swimming X 1
100 metre freestyle for sailors X 1
Events4796776666667810151513131516161616161616161717

Women's events

Current program
Event 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
50 metre freestyle X X X X X X X X X X 10
100 metre freestyle 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 ) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
400 metre freestyle 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 freestyle X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
1500 metre freestyle X X 2
100 metre backstroke 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 backstroke X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
100 metre breaststroke X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
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 24
100 metre butterfly X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 18
200 metre butterfly X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 15
200 metre individual medley X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13
400 metre individual medley X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 16
4 × 100 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 26
4 × 200 metre freestyle relay X X X X X X X X 8
4 × 100 metre medley relay X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 17
Events23555555678141413131415151616161616161717

Mixed events

Current program
Event 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
4 × 100 metre medley relay 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 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)1304
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)5895865871762

Marathon swimming

Events

Event 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 Years
Men's 10 km X X X X 4
Women's 10 km X X X X 4
Events2222

Medal table

Last updated after the 2020 Summer Olympics [4]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)3104
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)1113
3Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)1102
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)0123
9Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)0101
Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)0101
11Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)0011
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0011
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0011
Totals (13 entries)88824

Overall medal table

Last updated after the 2020 Summer Olympics

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 257179144580
2Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 697074213
3Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)38322292
4Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 29272076
5Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 24273283
6Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 22211962
7Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 20313182
8Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 16211249
9Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 14193164
10Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)12212659
11Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 9182855
12Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 9161439
13Flag of France.svg  France 8162044
14Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 77620
15Olympic flag.svg  Unified Team  (EUN)63110
16Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 59923
17Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 571729
18Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 4329
19Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG)351422
20Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 35715
21Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 3249
22Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 3014
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 3014
24Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 241117
25Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 2417
26Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia  (ANZ)2338
27Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2248
28Russian Olympic Committee flag.png  ROC 2215
29Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2136
30Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 16512
31Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)15612
32Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1427
33Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1326
34Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1304
35Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1225
36Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 1124
37Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1113
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1113
39Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia  (YUG)1102
40Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1012
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 1012
42Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 1001
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1001
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 1001
45Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 0213
46Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0202
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 0202
48Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 0145
49Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 0112
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 0112
51Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 0101
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 0101
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 0101
54Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland 0033
55Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 0022
56Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 0011
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 0011
Totals (57 entries)5965945951785

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 Years
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania  (ALB)122225
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria  (ALG)511365118
Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa  (ASA)222
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra  (AND)1221226
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola  (ANG)5831212229
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda  (ANT)2123
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina  (ARG)44511773784562371310114520
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia  (ARM)1211226
Flag of Aruba.svg  Aruba  (ARU)21224
Flag of Australasian team for Olympic games.svg  Australasia  (ANZ)592
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)16555510102626322424281731253333444143473924
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)23118382310732156624861211624
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan  (AZE)12412226
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas  (BAH)221214441310
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain  (BRN)2222216
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh  (BAN)211222128
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados  (BAR)1112344129
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus  (BLR)10998886
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)175126561063264107477497131023
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin  (BEN)2223
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda  (BER)5521161121211
Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia  (BOL)1122222229
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina  (BIH)22211227
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana  (BOT)222
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)2816131245441299715910132325193621
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands  (IVB)11
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei  (BRU)11
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)335138516644312
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso  (BUR)12224
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi  (BDI)21224
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia  (CAM)42222227
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon  (CMR)1223
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)11326141499881215383837312927392027333024
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands  (CAY)32224
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic  (CAF)122
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile  (CHI)4411232129
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)21114241621212842514512
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei  (TPE)143588131353211
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia  (COL)231945211155353416
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros  (COM)1123
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo  (CGO)12221227
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands  (COK)1222
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica  (CRC)11218132122112
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia  (CRO)11171313426
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)2221323722111
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus  (CYP)422752128
Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)49133423313156817
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic  (CZE)1061210686
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo  (COD)11
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)15145218692433621315810769101525
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti  (DJI)112
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica  (DMA)122
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic  (DOM)11224
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)24372330265
Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador  (ECU)3112153123311
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt  (EGY)163285226233713
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador  (ESA)1472121112210
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea  (GEQ)21
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia  (EST)241469228
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia  (ETH)222
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji  (FIJ)3532211229
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)361211211315631112112127757825
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)4743132013581716161991618161316252525192135313026
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon  (GAB)11
Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia  (GAM)11
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia  (GEO)112125
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)645171922491826382428353525302918
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana  (GHA)21
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)72518182621152232262232332736403233312839323724442826
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece  (GRE)15115225223428142818141518
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada  (GRN)12124
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam  (GUM)472111328
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala  (GUA)1361521411211
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea  (GUI)212125
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana  (GUY)11224
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti  (HAI)122
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras  (HON)6341222229
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong  (HKG)4213324810839743716
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)1121086851315151618191416813131321182528323526
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland  (ISL)82244346239787315
Olympic flag.svg  Independent Olympic Participants  (IOP)41
Flag of India.svg  India  (IND)1752122141211
Olympic flag.svg  Independent Olympic Athletes  (IOA)21
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia  (INA)13211216321212
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran  (IRI)11111117
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq  (IRQ)21114
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)2474325254234314
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel  (ISR)1142612314410275716
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)242465210723161024131326212414212934353824
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast  (CIV)21224
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)114143128
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)261023212219213820151522232527212031293621
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan  (JOR)2222226
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)781112736
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)1222226
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo  (KOS)21
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait  (KUW)2352332129
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan  (KGZ)121863226
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos  (LAO)122125
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia  (LAT)14452227
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon  (LIB)1224412522211
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho  (LES)11
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya  (LBA)422125
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg  Liechtenstein  (LIE)122
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania  (LTU)2861094668
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg  (LUX)243411411213241316
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia  (MKD)4442226
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar  (MAD)312222228
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi  (MAW)22124
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia  (MAS)2272112159452314
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives  (MDV)21222227
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali  (MLI)222225
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta  (MLT)1222226
Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands  (MHL)2223
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius  (MRI)62222227
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)398411102722971210727669319
Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia  (FSM)222225
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova  (MDA)5103225
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco  (MON)11111117
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia  (MGL)212225
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro  (MNE)122
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco  (MAR)111125
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique  (MOZ)522312222210
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar  (MYA)111115
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia  (NAM)2113
Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal  (NEP)2222226
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)474121451412131926171915121611920241618151724
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  Netherlands Antilles  (AHO)311215
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)11412524698711148131517919
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua  (NCA)211222228
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger  (NIG)212125
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  (NGR)222225
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)52111131473265143218
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman  (OMA)1143
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan  (PAK)4231122229
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau  (PLW)211125
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine  (PLE)112225
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama  (PAN)1311122221211
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea  (PNG)212215
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay  (PAR)322212228
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru  (PER)3633452223223214
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHI)2353188277344524552220
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)247154538514118715192017
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal  (POR)1145352212912711107516
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico  (PUR)1491253673642213
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar  (QAT)111225
Flag of Rhodesia.svg  Rhodesia  (RHO)41
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania  (ROU)12223525101411764615
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)43028303535367
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda  (RWA)222225
Flag of Saar (1947-1956).svg  Saar  (SAA)11
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia  (LCA)211115
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  (VIN)21124
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa  (SAM)21
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino  (SMR)22112218
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia  (KSA)21114
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal  (SEN)22222227
Flag of Serbia and Montenegro.svg  Serbia and Montenegro  (SCG)472
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia  (SRB)9863
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles  (SEY)41222227
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone  (SLE)122
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore  (SIN)1345558555311
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia  (SVK)3423536
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia  (SLO)556111012107
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)1151368310714824201315
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea  (KOR)41131542017191615812
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)181023213126313927299
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)24563101113914118112118231623142420
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka  (SRI)111212222210
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan  (SUD)11224
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname  (SUR)2134222229
Flag of Swaziland.svg  Swaziland  (SWZ)12121117
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)112241314925812515141615182424181718161518121126
Flag of Switzerland.svg  Switzerland  (SUI)421488924102313104591377821
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria  (SYR)11213227
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan  (TJK)22124
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania  (TAN)2223
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand  (THA)2256862229
Flag of Togo.svg  Togo  (TOG)122
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga  (TGA)122
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Nations412414171923282029344833454251525141677792117150152162166169
Swimmers1976321001201161181821282482493192353804054685324713334946336417629549371026950950
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

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

Related Research Articles

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References