- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 97.0
- Statistics
- 94.0
- Honours
- 96.0
- Longevity
- 90.0
GOAT Rank · 57
Greatest Freestyles of all time
This ranking is led by Katie Ledecky, Ragnhild Hveger and Franziska van Almsick. GOAT Rank currently ranks 57 eligible Swimming freestyles using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Katie Ledecky ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 94.8.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#AthleteGOAT Score
- 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
- 1991–2004
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- 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
- 1955–1964
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- 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
- 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
- 1997–2012
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- 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
- 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
- 2021–active
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1986–1993
- Country
- 🇧🇾 Belarus
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2005–active
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 92.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2021
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2003–2021
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2015–active
- Country
- 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1986–1996
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2016
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2014–active
- Country
- 🇨🇳 China
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1993–2009
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2015–active
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- 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
- 2008–2020
- Country
- 🇨🇳 China
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–2016
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2014
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1996–2004
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2010–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1994–2004
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2005–2017
- Country
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2022–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 60.0
- 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
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇨🇳 China
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2009–2014
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2008
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 85.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2006–2016
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2012–2021
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2005–2009
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 76.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1968–1976
- Country
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 74.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1992–2004
- Country
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- 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
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1993–2001
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Katie Ledecky | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2012–active | 94.8 |
| 17 | Ragnhild Hveger | Swimming | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 1936–1952 | 88.2 |
| 19 | Franziska van Almsick | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1991–2004 | 88.0 |
| 24 | Johnny Weissmuller | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1921–1929 | 87.6 |
| 37 | Dawn Fraser | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1955–1964 | 86.8 |
| 39 | Kristin Otto | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1982–1989 | 86.8 |
| 40 | Duke Kahanamoku | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1911–1932 | 86.8 |
| 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 |
| 57 | Ian Thorpe | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1997–2012 | 85.5 |
| 65 | Matt Biondi | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–1992 | 85.0 |
| 70 | Don Schollander | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1962–1968 | 84.8 |
| 72 | Debbie Meyer | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1967–1972 | 84.4 |
| 83 | Mollie O'Callaghan | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2021–active | 83.9 |
| 86 | Yuri Bashkatov | Swimming | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 1986–1993 | 83.8 |
| 87 | Femke Heemskerk | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2005–active | 83.7 |
| 95 | Veronika Andrusenko | Swimming | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2008–2021 | 83.5 |
| 96 | Federica Pellegrini | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2003–2021 | 83.4 |
| 97 | Siobhán Haughey | Swimming | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 2015–active | 83.4 |
| 98 | Karin Brienesse | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1986–1996 | 83.3 |
| 100 | Yannick Agnel | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2008–2016 | 83.1 |
| 103 | Ariarne Titmus | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2016–active | 83.0 |
| 108 | Ai Yanhan | Swimming | 🇨🇳 China | 2014–active | 82.9 |
| 109 | Emiliano Brembilla | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1993–2009 | 82.8 |
| 125 | Grant Brits | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2015–active | 82.0 |
| 133 | Enith Brigitha | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1970–1980 | 81.6 |
| 141 | Sun Yang | Swimming | 🇨🇳 China | 2008–2020 | 81.4 |
| 143 | Bronte Barratt | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2006–2016 | 81.4 |
| 144 | Ricky Berens | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2014 | 81.4 |
| 151 | Lindsay Benko | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1996–2004 | 81.1 |
| 157 | Charlotte Bonnet | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2010–active | 80.9 |
| 171 | Romain Barnier | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 1994–2004 | 80.3 |
| 172 | Lauren Boyle | Swimming | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 2005–2017 | 80.2 |
| 182 | Coby Carrozza | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2018–active | 79.9 |
| 190 | Jack Alexy | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2022–active | 79.5 |
| 196 | Deborah Babashoff | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1974–1980 | 79.2 |
| 198 | Jack Cartwright | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2016–active | 79.1 |
| 202 | Yang Junxuan | Swimming | 🇨🇳 China | 2018–active | 79.0 |
| 203 | Alyssa Anderson | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2009–2014 | 78.9 |
| 204 | Angie Bainbridge | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2000–2008 | 78.9 |
| 216 | Tom Dean | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2018–active | 78.3 |
| 217 | Serhiy Breus | Swimming | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 2006–2016 | 78.3 |
| 218 | Annika Bruhn | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2012–2021 | 78.3 |
| 224 | Caroline Burckle | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2005–2009 | 78.1 |
| 226 | Marie-Thérèse Armentero | Swimming | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 1968–1976 | 77.9 |
| 227 | Gustavo Borges | Swimming | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 1992–2004 | 77.8 |
| 231 | Gail Amundrud | Swimming | 🇨🇦 Canada | 1974–1980 | 77.5 |
| 233 | Freya Anderson | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2016–active | 77.0 |
| 235 | Chad Carvin | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1993–2001 | 76.9 |
Compare the leaders
Katie Ledecky vs Ragnhild HvegerRead 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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