# Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships

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) | 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 |
| 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 | 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 (7) | Hungary (2) |
| 2022 | 18 June – 3 July | 19 | Budapest, Hungary | 20 / 20 / 2 | 3 / 3 / 1 | United States | Italy | Australia (4) |
| 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 | 20 / 20 / 2 | 2 / 2 / 1 | United States (15) | China (3) | Australia (5) |
| 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 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 | 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 |
| Freestyle | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 200 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 400 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 800 m | | | | | | | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 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 |
| Backstroke | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Backstroke | 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 |
| Breaststroke | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Breaststroke | 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 |
| Butterfly | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Butterfly | 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 |
| Individual medley | 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 |
| Relays | 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 |
| Relays | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| Freestyle | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 200 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 400 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 800 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Freestyle | 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 |
| Backstroke | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Backstroke | 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 |
| Breaststroke | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Breaststroke | 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 |
| Butterfly | 100 m | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Butterfly | 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 |
| Individual medley | 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 |
| Relays | 4×200 m freestyle | | | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Relays | 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 | 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 | Edition | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Relays | 4×100 m freestyle | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Relays | 4×100 m medley | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Number of events | 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.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 254 | 205 | 150 | 609 |
| 2 | Australia | 101 | 107 | 69 | 277 |
| 3 | China | 62 | 31 | 55 | 148 |
| 4 | East Germany | 50 | 40 | 25 | 115 |
| 5 | Hungary | 35 | 19 | 28 | 82 |
| 6 | Great Britain | 27 | 23 | 47 | 97 |
| 7 | Italy | 26 | 30 | 33 | 89 |
| 8 | Germany | 22 | 39 | 39 | 100 |
| 9 | France | 22 | 23 | 27 | 72 |
| 10 | Russia | 20 | 36 | 28 | 84 |
| 11 | Sweden | 20 | 20 | 17 | 57 |
| 12 | Netherlands | 14 | 30 | 28 | 72 |
| 13 | Canada | 14 | 25 | 44 | 83 |
| 14 | South Africa | 12 | 7 | 16 | 35 |
| 15 | Japan | 11 | 27 | 40 | 78 |
| 16 | Soviet Union | 11 | 20 | 21 | 52 |
| 17 | Brazil | 9 | 12 | 10 | 31 |
| 18 | West Germany | 8 | 7 | 11 | 26 |
| 19 | Ukraine | 8 | 6 | 7 | 21 |
| 20 | Poland | 6 | 11 | 12 | 29 |
| 21 | Spain | 5 | 7 | 6 | 18 |
| 22 | Lithuania | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
| 23 | Denmark | 4 | 9 | 8 | 21 |
| 24 | South Korea | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 25 | Romania | 4 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| 26 | Zimbabwe | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| 27 | Tunisia | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 28 | Finland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 29 | New Zealand | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 |
| 30 | Belarus | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 31 | Portugal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 31 | Serbia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 33 | Ireland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 34 | Hong Kong | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 34 | Norway | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 36 | Costa Rica | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 37 | Greece | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 38 | Belgium | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 39 | Suriname | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 40 | Switzerland | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 41 | Austria | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 42 | Slovakia | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 43 | Croatia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 44 | Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 44 | Iceland | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 44 | Jamaica | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 44 | Yugoslavia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 48 | Czech Republic | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 48 | Israel | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 50 | Egypt | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 51 | Singapore | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 52 | Argentina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Neutral Independent Athletes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 52 | Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (57 entries) | Totals (57 entries) | 779 | 786 | 776 | 2,341 |

## 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 | 2024 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 25 |
| 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 | 2024 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 23 |
| 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 | 2024 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 15 |
| 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 |
| 2024 | 1 | – | – | 1 |

## Championship Records

* List of World Championships records in swimming