- 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 Swimmers who debuted in the 1970s
This ranking is led by Tracy Caulkins, Alex Baumann and Kornelia Ender. GOAT Rank currently ranks 35 eligible swimmers who debuted in the 1970s using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Tracy Caulkins ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 89.8.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#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 | 80.0 |
| 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?
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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