Women’s swimming is a very popular sport, with exceptional athletes breaking records at every competition. What’s more, they are always winning medals and inspiring millions of people around the world!
With these athletes in mind, we’ve put together a special list of the 20 best female swimmers in the world today! The athletes mentioned here not only stand out for their exceptional performances in the pools, but also for their stories of overcoming obstacles and dedication to the sport.
So check out the 20 best female swimmers in the world today!
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The 20 best female swimmers in the world today: complete list
- Katie Ledecky (USA)
- Sarah Sjöström (Sweden)
- Emma McKeon (Australia)
- Katinka Hosszú (Hungary)
- Federica Pellegrini (Italy)
- Rikako Ikee (Japan)
- Lilly King (USA)
- Yuliya Efimova (Russia)
- Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong)
- Simone Manuel (USA)
- Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
- Regan Smith (USA)
- Ariarne Titmus (Australia)
- Penny Oleksiak (Canada)
- Mireia Belmonte (Spain)
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands)
- Cate Campbell (Australia)
- Kelsi Dahlia (USA)
- Yufei Zhang (China)
- Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel)
The 20 best female swimmers in the world today: find out more about them
1. Katie Ledecky (USA)
Katie Ledecky is one of the best swimmers in history, with several Olympic and world titles to her name. She first came to prominence at the age of 15, winning the 800m freestyle at the London Olympics in 2012.
Since then, she has broken several world records in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle. Katie also swam for the Stanford University swim team, where she continued to rack up NCAA titles.
2. Sarah Sjöström (Sweden)
Sarah Sjöström is a versatile swimmer and a great short and middle distance athlete. She holds world records in the 50m and 100m freestyle, as well as the 50m and 100m butterfly.
The swimmer won her first world title at the age of 14 and has continued to rack up medals at European and world championships.
3. Emma McKeon (Australia)
Emma McKeon is one of Australia’s most admired swimmers, boasting several Olympic and world medals. She shone at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, winning seven medals, including four gold.
Emma is also known for her success at Commonwealth championships. McKeon comes from a family of swimmers, with her father and brother also competing at a high level.
4. Katinka Hosszú (Hungary)
Known as the “Iron Lady”, Katinka Hosszú is famous for her versatility in medley and endurance events. She is a three-time Olympic champion and holds several world and European titles.
Katinka is known for her ability to compete in several events in a single competition, often swimming more than 10 races. She was one of the first swimmers to establish her own professional team, Iron Swim Budapest.
5. Federica Pellegrini (Italy)
Federica Pellegrini is one of Italy’s most iconic swimmers and a freestyle specialist. She has held the world record in the 200m freestyle since 2009 and won medals at five consecutive Olympics, from 2004 to 2020.
6. Rikako Ikee (Japan)
Rikako Ikee is a young Japanese swimmer who has gained notoriety for her achievements in sprint and butterfly events. She is the first swimmer to win six gold medals in a single Asian championship.
In 2019, Rikako was diagnosed with leukemia, but returned to competition in 2021, inspiring many other athletes.
7. Lilly King (USA)
Lilly King is a breaststroke specialist and an Olympic and world champion. She is best known for her victory in the 100m breaststroke at the 2016 Olympics, where she also broke the Olympic record.
King is an open advocate of clean sport and often voices her opinions against doping.
8. Yuliya Efimova (Russia)
Yuliya Efimova is a Russian swimmer who specializes in the breaststroke. She has a long list of Olympic and world medals, despite several doping controversies throughout her career. Efimova remains one of the fastest swimmers in the world in her specialty.
9. Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong)
Siobhan Haughey is the first Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal, winning two silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games in the 100m and 200m freestyle. She is also known for her successes at the World and Asian Championships.
10. Simone Manuel (USA)
Simone Manuel is an American swimmer who made history by becoming the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming, winning the 100m freestyle at the 2016 Games. She has also broken American and world records.
Manuel is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in sport and has worked to increase the visibility of minority swimmers.
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11. Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
Kaylee McKeown is an Australian swimmer who specializes in the backstroke. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, she won three gold medals, including the 100m and 200m backstroke.
Kaylee also holds the world record in the 100m backstroke. McKeown dedicated his Olympic victories to his father, who died of cancer in 2020.
12. Regan Smith (USA)
Regan Smith is a young American swimmer known for her world records in the 100m and 200m backstroke.
She won her first Olympic medals at Tokyo 2020 and is seen as one of the future stars of American swimming. Regan started swimming at the age of 8 and quickly excelled in local and national competitions.
13. Ariarne Titmus (Australia)
Ariarne Titmus, also known as “Arnie”, is an Australian swimmer specializing in freestyle.
She challenged and defeated Katie Ledecky in the 200m and 400m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, winning two gold medals.
14. Penny Oleksiak (Canada)
Penny Oleksiak is a Canadian swimmer who won four medals at the 2016 Olympic Games, including a gold in the 100m freestyle.
She is the most decorated Canadian Olympic athlete of all time. She started swimming at the age of 9 and quickly rose to the top of the Canadian competitive scene.
15. Mireia Belmonte (Spain)
Mireia Belmonte is a Spanish swimmer known for her versatility and success in medley and freestyle.
She has won several Olympic medals, including a gold in the 200m butterfly in 2016. Belmonte was the first Spanish swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal.
16. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands)
Ranomi Kromowidjojo is a Dutch short-course freestyle swimmer.
She has won three Olympic gold medals in her career and is known for her speed and consistency. Ranomi has Surinamese roots and is a popular figure in Dutch sport.
17. Cate Campbell (Australia)
Cate Campbell is an Australian swimmer specializing in freestyle. She has won multiple Olympic medals and holds the world record in the 4x100m freestyle relay with the Australian team.
Cate Campbell was born in Malawi and moved to Australia at the age of 9.
18. Kelsi Dahlia (USA)
Kelsi Dahlia is an American swimmer known for her butterfly and relay performances.
She has won several medals at the world championships and was part of the US Olympic team.
19. Yufei Zhang (China)
Yufei Zhang is a Chinese swimmer who specializes in the butterfly. She won gold in the 200m butterfly at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and has several titles at world and Asian championships.
Zhang is known for her discipline and work ethic, often training long hours to perfect her technique.
20. Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel)
Anastasia Gorbenko is a young Israeli swimmer who is fast becoming a star on the international stage.
She won gold in the 200m medley at the 2021 European Championships and continues to break national records. Gorbenko started swimming to overcome childhood asthma and is now one of Israel’s leading athletes.
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The 20 best female swimmers in the world today: complete list
- Katie Ledecky (USA)
- Sarah Sjöström (Sweden)
- Emma McKeon (Australia)
- Katinka Hosszú (Hungary)
- Federica Pellegrini (Italy)
- Rikako Ikee (Japan)
- Lilly King (USA)
- Yuliya Efimova (Russia)
- Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong)
- Simone Manuel (USA)
- Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
- Regan Smith (USA)
- Ariarne Titmus (Australia)
- Penny Oleksiak (Canada)
- Mireia Belmonte (Spain)
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands)
- Cate Campbell (Australia)
- Kelsi Dahlia (USA)
- Yufei Zhang (China)
- Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel)
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