- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1996–2016
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
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
- 2004–2021
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 86.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2016–active
- Country
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1998–2012
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- 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
- 1956–1964
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- 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
- 1999–2016
- Country
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2016–2024
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2021
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1990–2000
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2010–2022
- Country
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- 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
- 2013–active
- Country
- 🇨🇳 China
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- 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
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- 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
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- 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
- 1980–1992
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1995–2008
- Country
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- 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
- 1996–2007
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 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
- 2012–active
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- 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
- 2000–2016
- Country
- 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2003–2013
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- 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
- 1984–1992
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2019–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- 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
- 1992–2004
- Country
- 🇷🇴 Romania
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 82.0
- 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
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇨🇳 China
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1998–2012
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2000–2021
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 80.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2004–2016
- Country
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 82.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 80.0
- 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
- 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
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 80.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 76.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2016
- Country
- 🇫🇷 France
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 84.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Grant Hackett | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1996–2016 | 86.2 |
| 52 | Ryan Lochte | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2004–2021 | 86.1 |
| 53 | Florian Wellbrock | Swimming | 🇩🇪 Germany | 2016–active | 85.9 |
| 54 | Leisel Jones | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1998–2012 | 85.8 |
| 55 | Rick Carey | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1981–1988 | 85.8 |
| 56 | Murray Rose | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1956–1964 | 85.6 |
| 57 | Ian Thorpe | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1997–2012 | 85.5 |
| 58 | Kosuke Kitajima | Swimming | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1999–2016 | 85.5 |
| 59 | Tatjana Smith | Swimming | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 2016–2024 | 85.5 |
| 60 | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2008–2021 | 85.5 |
| 61 | Susie O'Neill | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1990–2000 | 85.5 |
| 62 | Pernille Blume | Swimming | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 2010–2022 | 85.3 |
| 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 |
| 66 | Zhang Yufei | Swimming | 🇨🇳 China | 2013–active | 85.0 |
| 67 | Mike Barrowman | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1988–1992 | 85.0 |
| 68 | Sharon van Rouwendaal | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2012–active | 84.9 |
| 69 | Brooke Bennett | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1994–2001 | 84.8 |
| 70 | Don Schollander | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1962–1968 | 84.8 |
| 71 | Rūta Meilutytė | Swimming | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 2012–active | 84.7 |
| 72 | Debbie Meyer | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1967–1972 | 84.4 |
| 73 | Conny van Bentum | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1980–1992 | 84.4 |
| 74 | Pieter van den Hoogenband | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 1995–2008 | 84.3 |
| 75 | Gary Hall Jr. | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1994–2004 | 84.3 |
| 76 | Michael Klim | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1996–2007 | 84.3 |
| 77 | Melissa Belote | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1971–1976 | 84.2 |
| 78 | Bronte Campbell | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2012–active | 84.1 |
| 79 | Anthony Ervin | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1999–2016 | 84.0 |
| 80 | Gertrude Ederle | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1921–1928 | 84.0 |
| 81 | George Bovell | Swimming | 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | 2000–2016 | 84.0 |
| 82 | Laure Manaudou | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2003–2013 | 83.9 |
| 83 | Mollie O'Callaghan | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2021–active | 83.9 |
| 84 | Tom Jager | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1984–1992 | 83.9 |
| 85 | Léon Marchand | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2019–active | 83.8 |
| 86 | Yuri Bashkatov | Swimming | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 1986–1993 | 83.8 |
| 87 | Femke Heemskerk | Swimming | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 2005–active | 83.7 |
| 88 | Beatrice Câșlaru | Swimming | 🇷🇴 Romania | 1992–2004 | 83.7 |
| 89 | Lenny Krayzelburg | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1997–2004 | 83.6 |
| 90 | Qin Haiyang | Swimming | 🇨🇳 China | 2017–active | 83.6 |
| 91 | Ashley Callus | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1998–2012 | 83.6 |
| 92 | Roland Schoeman | Swimming | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 2000–2021 | 83.5 |
| 93 | Dániel Gyurta | Swimming | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 2004–2016 | 83.5 |
| 94 | Amanda Beard | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1996–2008 | 83.5 |
| 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 |
| 99 | Yohann Ndoye-Brouard | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2018–active | 83.2 |
| 100 | Yannick Agnel | Swimming | 🇫🇷 France | 2008–2016 | 83.1 |
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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