Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships

File: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.

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).

Year	Date	Edition	Location	Events (men/women/mixed)		Winner of the medal table	Second in the medal table	Third in the medal table
				Long course	Open water
1973	31 August – 9 September	1	Template:Flagicon Belgrade, Yugoslavia	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0
1975	19–27 July	2	Template:Flagicon Cali, Colombia	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0
1978	20–28 August	3	Template:Flagicon West Berlin, West Germany	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0
1982	29 July – 8 August	4	Template:Flagicon Guayaquil, Ecuador	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0
1986	13–23 August	5	Template:Flagicon Madrid, Spain	16 / 16 / 0	0 / 0 / 0	(3)
1991	3–13 January	6	Template:Flagicon Perth, Australia	16 / 16 / 0	1 / 1 / 0
1994	1–11 September	7	Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy	16 / 16 / 0	1 / 1 / 0
1998	8–17 January	8	Template:Flagicon Perth, Australia	16 / 16 / 0	2 / 2 / 2
2001	16–29 July	9	Template:Flagicon Fukuoka, Japan	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0
2003	12–27 July	10	Template:Flagicon Barcelona, Spain	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0
2005	16–31 July	11	Template:Flagicon Montreal, Canada	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0			(2)
2007	18 March – 1 April	12	Template:Flagicon Melbourne, Australia	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0			(2)
2009	17 July – 2 August	13	Template:Flagicon Rome, Italy	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0
2011	16–31 July	14	Template:Flagicon Shanghai, China	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 1
2013	19 July – 4 August	15	Template:Flagicon Barcelona, Spain	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 1
2015	24 July – 9 August	16	Template:Flagicon Kazan, Russia	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1
2017	14–30 July	17	Template:Flagicon Budapest, Hungary	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1			Template:GBR2
2019	12–28 July	18	Template:Flagicon Gwangju, South Korea	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1		(7)	(2)
2022	18 June – 3 July	19	Template:Flagicon Budapest, Hungary	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1			(4)
2023	14–30 July	20	Template:Flagicon Fukuoka, Japan	20 / 20 / 2	2 / 2 / 1	(2)	(5)	(3)
2024	2–18 February	21	Template:Flagicon Doha, Qatar	20 / 20 / 2	2 / 2 / 1	(15)	(3)	(5)
2025	TBA	22	Template:Flagicon Kallang, Singapore	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
2027	TBA	23	Template:Flagicon Budapest, Hungary	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA

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, 50 different events have been held across the 17 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 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 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
Freestyle	50 m					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
	200 m	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
	800 m									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
Backstroke	50 m									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
	200 m	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Breaststroke	50 m									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
	200 m	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Butterfly	50 m									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
	200 m	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
	400 m	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Relays	4×100 m freestyle	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
	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
Number of events		15	15	15	15	16	16	16	16	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20

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
Freestyle	50 m					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
	200 m	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
	800 m	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
Backstroke	50 m									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
	200 m	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Breaststroke	50 m									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
	200 m	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Butterfly	50 m									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
	200 m	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
	400 m	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Relays	4×100 m freestyle	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
	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
Number of events		14	14	14	14	16	16	16	16	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20

Mixed events

Edition		2015	2017	2019	2022	2023	2024
Relays	4×100 m freestyle	X	X	X	X	X	X
	4×100 m medley	X	X	X	X	X	X
Number of events		2	2	2	2	2	2

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 (1973–2024)

Updated after the 2024 World Aquatics Championships.

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

Rank	Swimmer	Country	Gender	From	To	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Michael Phelps		M	2001	2011	** 26 **	6	1	** 33 **
2	Katie Ledecky		F	2013	2023	21	5	–	26
3	Ryan Lochte		M	2005	2015	* 18 *	5	* 4 *	** 27 **
4	Caeleb Dressel		M	2017	2022	15	2	–	17
5	Sarah Sjöström		F	2009	2024	14	8	3	25
6	Simone Manuel		F	2013	2019	* 11 *	3	2	* 16 *
7	Missy Franklin		F	2011	2015	11	2	3	16
	Sun Yang		M	2009	2019	11	2	3	16
9	Lilly King		F	2017	2023	* 11 *	2	–	* 13 *
10	Ian Thorpe		M	1998	2003	11	1	1	13

* 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

Individual events

Rank	Swimmer	Country	Gender	From	To	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Katie Ledecky		F	2013	2023	16	3	–	19
2	Michael Phelps		M	2001	2011	15	5	–	20
3	Sarah Sjöström		F	2009	2024	14	6	3	23
4	Sun Yang		M	2009	2019	11	2	1	14
5	Ryan Lochte		M	2005	2015	10	3	3	16
6	Katinka Hosszú		F	2009	2019	9	1	5	15
7	Caeleb Dressel		M	2017	2022	8	–	–	8
8	Grant Hackett		M	1998	2007	7	6	1	14
9	Ana Marcela Cunha		F	2011	2024	7	1	7	15
10	Aaron Peirsol		M	2001	2009	7	1	–	8

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.

Edition	Men	Women	Mixed	Total
1973	7	10	Not held	17
1975	1	4	Not held	5
1978	4	10	Not held	14
1982	4	3	Not held	7
1986	–	6	Not held	6
1991	7	–	Not held	7
1994	3	7	Not held	10
1998	–	–	Not held	0
2001	8	–	Not held	8
2003	12	2	Not held	14
2005	5	4	Not held	9
2007	7	8	Not held	15
2009	17	26	Not held	43
2011	2	–	Not held	2
2013	–	6	Not held	6
2015	2	6	3	11
2017	2	6	3	11
2019	5	4	1	10
2022	2	–	1	3
2023	2	7	1	10
2024	1	–	–	1

Championship Records

• List of World Championships records in swimming

See also

• Major achievements in swimming by nation
• Swimming at the Summer Olympics

External links

• FINA Official Championship Results History – Swimming (men)
• FINA Official Championship Results History – Swimming (women)