- 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 · 89
Greatest Swimmers from United States
This ranking is led by Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Robert Finke. GOAT Rank currently ranks 89 eligible swimmers from United States 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
- 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
- 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
- 1991–2004
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- 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
- 2007–2021
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- 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
- 1911–1932
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- 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
- 1986–1996
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2004–2021
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1981–1988
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1998–2012
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1984–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1988–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1994–2001
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1962–1968
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1967–1972
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1994–2004
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1971–1976
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1999–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1921–1928
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1984–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1997–2004
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1996–2008
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1993–2002
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2012
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2019–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1975–1980
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1972–1976
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1994–2000
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2021–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1966–1972
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2010–2018
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2012
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1971–1976
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2013–2021
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2015–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
| # | 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 |
| 6 | Robert Finke | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2018–active | 90.1 |
| 7 | Tracy Caulkins | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1977–1984 | 89.8 |
| 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 |
| 16 | Jenny Thompson | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1991–2004 | 88.6 |
| 24 | Johnny Weissmuller | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1921–1929 | 87.6 |
| 25 | Mark Spitz | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1965–1972 | 87.5 |
| 28 | Nathan Adrian | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2021 | 87.3 |
| 32 | Lilly King | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2016–active | 87.1 |
| 40 | Duke Kahanamoku | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1911–1932 | 86.8 |
| 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 |
| 49 | Janet Evans | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1986–1996 | 86.3 |
| 52 | Ryan Lochte | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2004–2021 | 86.1 |
| 55 | Rick Carey | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1981–1988 | 85.8 |
| 63 | Jason Lezak | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1998–2012 | 85.1 |
| 64 | Caeleb Dressel | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2013–active | 85.0 |
| 65 | Matt Biondi | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–1992 | 85.0 |
| 67 | Mike Barrowman | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1988–1992 | 85.0 |
| 69 | Brooke Bennett | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1994–2001 | 84.8 |
| 70 | Don Schollander | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1962–1968 | 84.8 |
| 72 | Debbie Meyer | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1967–1972 | 84.4 |
| 75 | Gary Hall Jr. | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1994–2004 | 84.3 |
| 77 | Melissa Belote | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1971–1976 | 84.2 |
| 79 | Anthony Ervin | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1999–2016 | 84.0 |
| 80 | Gertrude Ederle | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1921–1928 | 84.0 |
| 84 | Tom Jager | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–1992 | 83.9 |
| 89 | Lenny Krayzelburg | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1997–2004 | 83.6 |
| 94 | Amanda Beard | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1996–2008 | 83.5 |
| 101 | Tom Dolan | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1993–2002 | 83.1 |
| 102 | Rebecca Soni | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2008–2012 | 83.1 |
| 105 | Kate Douglass | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2019–active | 83.0 |
| 106 | Chase Kalisz | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2013–active | 83.0 |
| 112 | Mike Bruner | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1975–1980 | 82.6 |
| 116 | John Hencken | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1972–1976 | 82.4 |
| 117 | Amy Van Dyken | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1994–2000 | 82.4 |
| 123 | Gretchen Walsh | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2021–active | 82.1 |
| 124 | Mike Burton | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1966–1972 | 82.0 |
| 126 | Missy Franklin | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2010–2018 | 81.8 |
| 127 | Brendan Hansen | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2000–2012 | 81.8 |
| 128 | Robin Backhaus | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1971–1976 | 81.8 |
| 130 | Elizabeth Beisel | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2016 | 81.7 |
| 132 | Barbara Bedford | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1990–2000 | 81.7 |
| 137 | Michael Chadwick | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2013–2021 | 81.6 |
| 140 | Simone Manuel | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2015–active | 81.5 |
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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