Meet the Inspiring Men and Women Who Changed Swimming Forever
Surging down the lane. Water splashing. Fingertips reaching for the wall. The crowd going wild as a new world record has just been set. When swimmers accomplish something that’s never been done before, it’s an inspiring moment that pushes the sport—and all who participate in it—forward. Here are the top twelve swimmers who defined (and redefined) what could be done in the pool.
Across Nations and Time, Here Are 12 of the Most Successful, Inspirational, and Influential Swimmers
1. Maritza Correia
Correia is one of the most pioneering and influential swimmers to ever take to the lanes. Her success and passion for the sport paved the way for other people of color to pursue their love of swimming.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 1 Olympic medal (silver) at the 2004 Games in Athens
- First black female swimmer to join the US Olympic team
- First black swimmer to set an American swimming record
- First black swimmer to set a world swimming record
2. Michael Phelps
What list of influential swimmers would be complete without the incomparable Michael Phelps?
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 28 Olympic medals (23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze) over his career
- Record holder for the most gold medals ever earned in a single Olympics (8)
- 6-time World Swimmer of the Year Award winner
- 8-time American Swimmer of the Year Award winner
3. Mark Spitz
Lovingly known as “Mark the Shark,” Mark Spitz was long synonymous with swimming success. He became just the third athlete to secure nine Olympic gold medals.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 11 Olympic medals (9 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
- Landed 7 gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games—a long-standing record that wasn’t surpassed until Phelps at the 2008 Games
- Set 33 official world swimming records over his career
- 3-time World Swimmer of the Year (1969, 1971, 1972)
4. Katie Ledecky
Hailed as one of the best Olympians of all time—in swimming or otherwise—Ledecky is widely considered the greatest female swimmer to ever compete. She made her Olympic debut at just fifteen.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 10 Olympic medals (7 gold, 3 silver)
- 5-time World Swimmer of the Year
- 7-time American Swimmer of the Year
- Currently holds 3 world records
5. Ian Thorpe
Thorpe, the Australian swimming phenom known as the “Thorpedo,” is a highly decorated freestyle swimmer.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 9 Olympic medals (5 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
- Holds the record for the most gold medals ever won by an Australian
- Was the first person to ever take home 6 gold medals in a single World Championship (2001)
- 4-time World Swimmer of the Year and the youngest male swimmer to ever hold the title
6. Matt Biondi
A poster child for getting into the swimming game late, Biondi did not pursue year-round swimming until he was in high school. (For an Olympic-level swimmer, that’s rare!) By his senior year, Biondi was the proud holder of the national high school record in the 50-yard freestyle.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 11 Olympic medals (8 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
- 3-time Olympic competitor (1984, 1988, 1992)
- Set 12 individual world records over the course of his career
- Member in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame
7. Johnny Weissmuller
Maybe you know him as a swimmer; maybe you know him as an actor. (Weissmuller was Tarzan in twelve films between 1932 and 1948.) Either way, there’s no denying the talent and accomplishments of Weissmuller in the pool.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 6 Olympic medals (5 gold, 1 bronze)
- Set 67 world swimming records over his career
- Took first place in 52 US National Championships
8. Natalie Coughlin
From her beginnings at Vallejo Aquatics Club when she was eight, Coughlin went on to become one of the most celebrated and decorated female swimmers in history.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 12 Olympic medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze)
- 1-time World Swimmer of the Year
- 3-time American Swimmer of the Year
- First woman to swim the 100-meter backstroke in under a minute
9. Dara Torres
Over the span of twenty-four years, Torres practically became synonymous with US Olympic swimming. Her longevity and success in the sport earned her recognition as one of the best-known swimmers of all time. (Learn more about Dana Torres here.)
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 12 Olympic medals (4 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze)
- First swimmer to appear for the United States in 5 separate Olympic Games (first in 1984 and last in 2008)
- At 41, became the oldest swimmer to medal at the Olympic Games
10. Ryan Lochte
With seven individual Olympic medals, Lochte is second only to Phelps in US men’s swimming history.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 12 Olympic medals (6 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze)
- Current world record holder in 4 separate events
- 2-time American Swimmer of the Year
- 2-time World Swimmer of the Year
11. Grant Hackett
An accomplished and decorated swimmer, Hackett is considered by many to be the greatest distance swimmer of all time.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 7 Olympic medals (3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze)
- Former world record holder in 3 freestyle events (200 meter, 800 meter, and 1,500 meter)
- Undefeated in the 1,500 meter from 1996 to 2007
12. Simone Manuel
A specialist in freestyle, Manuel is a powerhouse swimmer who has set records, won medals, made history, and inspired a generation of minority swimmers to strive for success in the pool.
Key Stats and Achievements:
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- Won 5 Olympic medals (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
- First black female swimmer to take Olympic gold
- Set 7 world swimming records (as part of a relay team)
Could Your Kids’ Names Be on This List Someday?
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