Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships

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
Year	Date	Edition	Location	Long course	Open water	Winner of the medal table	Second in the medal table	Third in the medal table
1973	31 August – 9 September	1	Belgrade, Yugoslavia	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0	East Germany	United States	Australia
1975	19–27 July	2	Cali, Colombia	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0	United States	East Germany	Hungary
1978	20–28 August	3	West Berlin, West Germany	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0	United States	Soviet Union	Australia
1982	29 July – 8 August	4	Guayaquil, Ecuador	15 / 14 / 0	0 / 0 / 0	East Germany	United States	Soviet Union
1986	13–23 August	5	Madrid, Spain	16 / 16 / 0	0 / 0 / 0	East Germany (3)	United States	West Germany
1991	3–13 January	6	Perth, Australia	16 / 16 / 0	1 / 1 / 0	United States	Hungary	Germany
1994	1–11 September	7	Rome, Italy	16 / 16 / 0	1 / 1 / 0	China	Australia	United States
1998	8–17 January	8	Perth, Australia	16 / 16 / 0	2 / 2 / 2	United States	Australia	China
2001	16–29 July	9	Fukuoka, Japan	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0	Australia	United States	Italy
2003	12–27 July	10	Barcelona, Spain	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0	United States	Australia	Russia
2005	16–31 July	11	Montreal, Canada	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0	United States	Australia	Germany (2)
2007	18 March – 1 April	12	Melbourne, Australia	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0	United States	Australia	Russia (2)
2009	17 July – 2 August	13	Rome, Italy	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 0	United States	Germany	Australia (3)
2011	16–31 July	14	Shanghai, China	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 1	United States	China	Brazil
2013	19 July – 4 August	15	Barcelona, Spain	20 / 20 / 0	3 / 3 / 1	United States	China (2)	France
2015	24 July – 9 August	16	Kazan, Russia	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1	United States	Australia	China
2017	14–30 July	17	Budapest, Hungary	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1	United States	France	Great Britain
2019	12–28 July	18	Gwangju, South Korea	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1	United States	Australia	Hungary (2)
2022	18 June – 3 July	19	Budapest, Hungary	20 / 20 / 2	3 / 3 / 1	United States (14)	Australia (8)	Italy (2)
2023	14–30 July	20	Fukuoka, Japan	20 / 20 / 2	2 / 2 / 1	Australia (2)	United States (5)	China (3)
2024	2–18 February	21	Doha, Qatar	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
2025	TBA	22	Kallang, Singapore	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
2027	TBA	23	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^[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
Freestyle	50 m					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
	200 m	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
	800 m									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
Backstroke	50 m									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
	200 m	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
	100 m	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
Butterfly	50 m									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
	200 m	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
Individual medley	400 m	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
	4×200 m freestyle	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
Number of events		15	15	15	15	16	16	16	16	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
Freestyle	50 m					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
	200 m	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
	800 m	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
Backstroke	50 m									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
	200 m	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
	100 m	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
Butterfly	50 m									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
	200 m	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
Individual medley	400 m	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
	4×200 m freestyle					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
Number of events		14	14	14	14	16	16	16	16	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20

Mixed events

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

Open water

Open water swimming events have been competed since the sixth edition of the championships in 1991. From 2000 to 2010, FINA organized in even years specific championships for open water swimming events, being the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.

Events

Edition		1991	1994	1998	2001	2003	2005	2007	2009	2011	2013	2015	2017	2019	2022	2023
Men	5 km			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
	25 km	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Women	5 km			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
	25 km	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Mixed	5/6 km			X						X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Mixed	25 km			X
Number of events		2	2	6	6	6	6	6	6	7	7	7	7	7	7	5

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 1973–2023

Updated after the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.

Swimming


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States	246	199	144	589
2	Australia	98	98	65	261
3	China	55	28	54	137
4	East Germany	50	40	25	115
5	Hungary	35	19	27	81
6	Great Britain	25	21	44	90
7	Italy	24	25	28	77
8	France	22	22	26	70
9	Germany	21	37	36	94
10	Russia	20	36	28	84
11	Sweden	18	19	16	53
12	Canada	13	24	39	76
13	South Africa	12	7	15	34
14	Netherlands	11	27	28	66
15	Soviet Union	11	20	21	52
16	Japan	10	27	39	76
17	Brazil	9	12	10	31
18	West Germany	8	7	11	26
19	Ukraine	7	6	7	20
20	Poland	6	11	9	26
21	Denmark	4	8	8	20
22	Spain	4	6	6	16
23	Lithuania	4	2	3	9
24	Romania	4	1	7	12
25	Zimbabwe	3	5	0	8
26	Tunisia	3	3	3	9
27	Finland	3	2	1	6
28	South Korea	2	1	2	5
29	Belarus	2	1	1	4
30	Serbia	2	1	0	3
31	Norway	1	2	1	4
32	Costa Rica	1	1	2	4
33	Greece	1	1	0	2
34	Belgium	1	0	2	3
35	Suriname	1	0	0	1
36	New Zealand	0	5	7	12
37	Switzerland	0	5	2	7
38	Austria	0	3	3	6
39	Slovakia	0	3	2	5
40	Croatia	0	2	0	2
41	Bulgaria	0	1	1	2
	Iceland	0	1	1	2
	Jamaica	0	1	1	2
	Yugoslavia	0	1	1	2
45	Czech Republic	0	1	0	1
	Hong Kong	0	1	0	1
	Portugal	0	1	0	1
48	Egypt	0	0	2	2
48	Singapore	0	0	2	2
50	Argentina	0	0	1	1
	Puerto Rico	0	0	1	1
	Trinidad and Tobago	0	0	1	1
	Venezuela	0	0	1	1
Totals (53 entries)		737	744	734	2215

Open water swimming


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Germany	19	17	14	50
2	Russia	12	11	9	32
3	Italy	12	10	19	41
4	United States	10	9	8	27
5	Brazil	8	3	8	19
6	France	6	8	3	17
7	Netherlands	5	7	5	17
8	Australia	3	7	6	16
9	Greece	2	4	3	9
10	Great Britain	2	1	1	4
11	Hungary	1	5	2	8
12	Spain	1	2	1	4
13	Canada	1	1	1	3
14	Bulgaria	1	0	3	4
15	South Africa	1	0	1	2
15	Tunisia	1	0	1	2
17	China	1	0	0	1
17	Switzerland	1	0	0	1
19	Belgium	0	1	0	1
	Czech Republic	0	1	0	1
	Ecuador	0	1	0	1
22	Argentina	0	0	1	1
	Egypt	0	0	1	1
	Ukraine	0	0	1	1
Totals (24 entries)		87	88	88	263

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	United States	M	2001	2011	26	6	1	33
2	Katie Ledecky	United States	F	2013	2023	21	5	–	26
3	Ryan Lochte	United States	M	2005	2015	* 18 *	5	* 4 *	27
4	Caeleb Dressel	United States	M	2017	2022	15	2	–	17
5	Sarah Sjöström	Sweden	F	2009	2023	12	7	3	22
6	Simone Manuel	United States	F	2013	2019	* 11 *	3	2	* 16 *
7	Missy Franklin	United States	F	2011	2015	11	2	3	16
7	Sun Yang	China	M	2009	2019	11	2	3	16
9	Lilly King	United States	F	2017	2023	* 11 *	2	–	* 13 *
10	Ian Thorpe	Australia	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	United States	F	2013	2023	16	3	–	19
2	Michael Phelps	United States	M	2001	2011	15	5	–	20
3	Sarah Sjöström	Sweden	F	2009	2023	12	6	3	21
4	Sun Yang	China	M	2009	2019	11	2	1	14
5	Ryan Lochte	United States	M	2005	2015	10	3	3	16
6	Katinka Hosszú	Hungary	F	2009	2019	9	1	5	15
7	Caeleb Dressel	United States	M	2017	2022	8	–	–	8
8	Grant Hackett	Australia	M	1998	2007	7	6	1	14
9	Ana Marcela Cunha	Brazil	F	2011	2023	7	1	6	14
10	Aaron Peirsol	United States	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

Championship Records

List of World Championships records in swimming

References

↑ Matt Roebuck (4 August 2015). "Myanmar centre-stage at World Championships". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
↑ "10-Year-Old Alzain Tareq Enjoying World Championship Experience". Swimming World Magazine. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[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.

[1]

[2]

International swimming
Olympic Games Youth World Championships Open Water Short Course Junior Masters Para INAS World Cup World Series Paralympic Games Geography Achievements by nation
Africa	CANA – African Championships African Games African Junior Championships
Americas	UANA (AFC CCCAN CONSANAT USAS) – Caribbean Islands Championships Central American & Caribbean Championships South American Championships Pan American Games
Asia	AASF – Asian Championships Asian Games
Europe	LEN – European Championships European Short Course Championships European Junior Championships European U-23 Championships European Games European Para Championships
Oceania	OSA – Oceania Championships Pacific Games
International	Arab Championships Arab Games Commonwealth Games International Swimming League Mediterranean Games Pan Pacific Championships Universiade
World Aquatics

Championships

Events

Long course

Men's events

Women's events

Mixed events

Open water

Events

Medalists

All-time medal table 1973–2023

Swimming

Open water swimming

Multiple medalists

All events

Individual events

World records

Championship Records

See also

References

External links