- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 100.0
- Dominance
- 99.0
- Statistics
- 98.0
- Honours
- 100.0
- Longevity
- 93.0
GOAT Rank · 267
Greatest Swimmers of all time
This ranking is led by Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Therese Alshammar. GOAT Rank currently ranks 267 eligible swimmers using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Michael Phelps ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 98.1.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#AthleteGOAT Score
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 97.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1994–2016
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 96.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1981–1991
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2024
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1977–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1966–1976
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1991–2007
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1998–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1982–2012
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 96.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1999–2011
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–active
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1991–2004
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1936–1952
- Country
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 93.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1990–2004
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1991–2004
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1996–2008
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2011–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–active
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1978–1987
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1921–1929
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1965–1972
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2003–2021
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1985–1993
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2021
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–active
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1971–1978
- Country
- 🇩🇪 East Germany
- Peak
- 95.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 91.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1976–1988
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2012–2024
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–active
- Country
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2004–2013
- Country
- 🏴 England
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2004–2023
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1955–1964
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1988–1996
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1982–1989
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1911–1932
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1979–1988
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1977–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1972–1978
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 90.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2004–2016
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2002–2012
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2002–2022
- Country
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1986–1996
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1994–2008
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Phelps | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2016 | 98.1 |
| 2 | Katie Ledecky | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2012–active | 94.8 |
| 3 | Therese Alshammar | Swimming | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1994–2016 | 90.3 |
| 4 | Michael Gross | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1981–1991 | 90.3 |
| 5 | Cate Campbell | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2008–2024 | 90.1 |
| 6 | Robert Finke | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2018–active | 90.1 |
| 7 | Tracy Caulkins | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1977–1984 | 89.8 |
| 8 | Kirsty Coventry | Swimming | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 2000–2016 | 89.7 |
| 9 | Roland Matthes | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1966–1976 | 89.6 |
| 10 | Inge de Bruijn | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1991–2007 | 89.5 |
| 11 | Natalie Coughlin | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1998–2016 | 89.4 |
| 12 | Dara Torres | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1982–2012 | 89.4 |
| 13 | Aaron Peirsol | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1999–2011 | 89.2 |
| 14 | Adam Peaty | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2012–active | 88.7 |
| 15 | Sarah Sjöström | Swimming | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 2007–active | 88.6 |
| 16 | Jenny Thompson | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1991–2004 | 88.6 |
| 17 | Ragnhild Hveger | Swimming | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 1936–1952 | 88.2 |
| 18 | Alexander Popov | Swimming | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1990–2004 | 88.0 |
| 19 | Franziska van Almsick | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1991–2004 | 88.0 |
| 20 | Yana Klochkova | Swimming | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1996–2008 | 87.9 |
| 21 | Gregorio Paltrinieri | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2011–active | 87.9 |
| 22 | Chad le Clos | Swimming | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 2008–active | 87.8 |
| 23 | Alex Baumann | Swimming | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1978–1987 | 87.8 |
| 24 | Johnny Weissmuller | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1921–1929 | 87.6 |
| 25 | Mark Spitz | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1965–1972 | 87.5 |
| 26 | László Cseh | Swimming | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 2003–2021 | 87.4 |
| 27 | Tamás Darnyi | Swimming | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 1985–1993 | 87.3 |
| 28 | Nathan Adrian | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2021 | 87.3 |
| 29 | Ana Marcela Cunha | Swimming | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2006–active | 87.3 |
| 30 | Kornelia Ender | Swimming | 🇩🇪 East Germany | 1971–1978 | 87.2 |
| 31 | Vladimir Salnikov | Swimming | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1976–1988 | 87.1 |
| 32 | Lilly King | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2016–active | 87.1 |
| 33 | Emma McKeon | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2012–2024 | 87.0 |
| 34 | Mireia Belmonte | Swimming | 🇪🇸 Spain | 2006–active | 87.0 |
| 35 | Rebecca Adlington | Swimming | 🏴 England | 2004–2013 | 87.0 |
| 36 | Katinka Hosszú | Swimming | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 2004–2023 | 86.9 |
| 37 | Dawn Fraser | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1955–1964 | 86.8 |
| 38 | Krisztina Egerszegi | Swimming | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 1988–1996 | 86.8 |
| 39 | Kristin Otto | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1982–1989 | 86.8 |
| 40 | Duke Kahanamoku | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1911–1932 | 86.8 |
| 41 | Kieren Perkins | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1990–2000 | 86.7 |
| 42 | Ryan Murphy | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2013–active | 86.7 |
| 43 | Mary T. Meagher | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1979–1988 | 86.7 |
| 44 | Sippy Woodhead | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1977–1984 | 86.6 |
| 45 | Shirley Babashoff | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1972–1978 | 86.5 |
| 46 | Paul Biedermann | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2004–2016 | 86.5 |
| 47 | Alain Bernard | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2002–2012 | 86.5 |
| 48 | Alia Atkinson | Swimming | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 2002–2022 | 86.4 |
| 49 | Janet Evans | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1986–1996 | 86.3 |
| 50 | Antje Buschschulte | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1994–2008 | 86.3 |
Compare the leaders
Michael Phelps vs Katie LedeckyRead the full methodology
Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.
Read the full methodologyFrequently asked questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Who is included?
According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.
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