- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1977–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 92.0
- Statistics
- 96.0
- Honours
- 92.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
GOAT Rank · 35
Greatest Swimming athletes of the 1970s
This ranking uses verified career records and GOAT Rank's published model. Every listed athlete clears the data eligibility threshold.
#AthleteGOAT Score
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 1971–1976
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- 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
- 1973–1977
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 62.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1976–1984
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- 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
- 1978–1984
- Country
- 🇩🇪 East Germany
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- 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
- 1970–1980
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1970–1976
- Country
- 🇬🇧 Great Britain
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1970–1978
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1971–1973
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 46.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1974–1980
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1979–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1978–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1976–1984
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1972–1980
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1974–1980
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1978–1984
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1977–1984
- Country
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 62.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1977–1986
- Country
- 🇷🇴 Romania
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1974–1978
- Country
- 🇩🇪 East Germany
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1978–1986
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1974–1980
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1976–1980
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1970–1980
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1978–1984
- Country
- 🇩🇪 West Germany
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1976–1980
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 62.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1973–1978
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 72.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- Longevity
- 62.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Tracy Caulkins | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1977–1984 | 89.8 |
| 23 | Alex Baumann | Swimming | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1978–1987 | 87.8 |
| 30 | Kornelia Ender | Swimming | 🇩🇪 East Germany | 1971–1978 | 87.2 |
| 31 | Vladimir Salnikov | Swimming | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1976–1988 | 87.1 |
| 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 |
| 77 | Melissa Belote | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1971–1976 | 84.2 |
| 112 | Mike Bruner | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1975–1980 | 82.6 |
| 113 | Hannelore Anke | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1973–1977 | 82.6 |
| 115 | Pär Arvidsson | Swimming | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1976–1984 | 82.4 |
| 116 | John Hencken | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1972–1976 | 82.4 |
| 119 | Petra Schneider | Swimming | 🇩🇪 East Germany | 1978–1984 | 82.3 |
| 128 | Robin Backhaus | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1971–1976 | 81.8 |
| 133 | Enith Brigitha | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1970–1980 | 81.6 |
| 134 | David Wilkie | Swimming | 🇬🇧 Great Britain | 1970–1976 | 81.6 |
| 136 | Brian Brinkley | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1970–1978 | 81.6 |
| 156 | Shane Gould | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1971–1973 | 80.9 |
| 160 | Joe Bottom | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1974–1980 | 80.9 |
| 164 | Craig Beardsley | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1979–1984 | 80.5 |
| 169 | Rowdy Gaines | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1978–1984 | 80.3 |
| 177 | Gary Abraham | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1976–1984 | 80 |
| 188 | Rômulo Arantes | Swimming | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1972–1980 | 79.6 |
| 196 | Deborah Babashoff | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1974–1980 | 79.2 |
| 214 | Bill Barrett | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1978–1984 | 78.4 |
| 219 | Bengt Baron | Swimming | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 1977–1984 | 78.2 |
| 221 | Carmen Bunaciu | Swimming | 🇷🇴 Romania | 1977–1986 | 78.2 |
| 229 | Roswitha Beier | Swimming | 🇩🇪 East Germany | 1974–1978 | 77.6 |
| 230 | Yuliya Bogdanova | Swimming | 🇷🇺 Russia | 1978–1986 | 77.5 |
| 231 | Gail Amundrud | Swimming | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1974–1980 | 77.5 |
| 232 | Melanie Buddemeyer | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1976–1980 | 77.2 |
| 240 | Paolo Barelli | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1970–1980 | 76.3 |
| 253 | Gudrun Beckmann | Swimming | 🇩🇪 West Germany | 1978–1984 | 75.5 |
| 259 | Duncan Goodhew | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1976–1980 | 73.9 |
| 264 | Jack Babashoff | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1973–1978 | 71.4 |
Compare the leaders
Tracy Caulkins vs Alex BaumannRead 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?
Only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible.
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