- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2008–2014
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
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
- 1996–2002
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- 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
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 84.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 54.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 66.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2016–2022
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 82.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 62.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1997–2008
- Country
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 66.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
- 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
- 2017–active
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 70.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2009–2017
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 82.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 68.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 1980–1986
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 72.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2019–active
- Country
- 🇷🇺 Russia
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 68.0
- Statistics
- 74.0
- Honours
- 72.0
- 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
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2016
- Country
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- Peak
- 78.0
- Dominance
- 64.0
- Statistics
- 78.0
- Honours
- 68.0
- Longevity
- 70.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2019–active
- Country
- 🇷🇴 Romania
- Peak
- 86.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 70.0
- Longevity
- 46.0
- Sport
- Swimming
- Career
- 2007–2013
- Country
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Peak
- 80.0
- Dominance
- 62.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 70.0
- Longevity
- 64.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | Karlee Bispo | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2008–2014 | 75.5 |
| 252 | Lara Carroll | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 1996–2002 | 75.5 |
| 253 | Gudrun Beckmann | Swimming | 🇩🇪 West Germany | 1978–1984 | 75.5 |
| 254 | Regan Smith | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2017–active | 75.3 |
| 255 | Vladyslav Bukhov | Swimming | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 2018–active | 74.9 |
| 256 | Federico Burdisso | Swimming | 🇮🇹 Italy | 2017–active | 74.5 |
| 257 | Zach Apple | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2016–2022 | 74.1 |
| 258 | Örn Arnarson | Swimming | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 1997–2008 | 74.0 |
| 259 | Duncan Goodhew | Swimming | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 1976–1980 | 73.9 |
| 260 | Michael Andrew | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2017–active | 73.4 |
| 261 | Hilary Caldwell | Swimming | 🇨🇦 Canada | 2009–2017 | 72.9 |
| 262 | Chris Cavanaugh | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1980–1986 | 72.6 |
| 263 | Ilya Borodin | Swimming | 🇷🇺 Russia | 2019–active | 71.7 |
| 264 | Jack Babashoff | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 1973–1978 | 71.4 |
| 265 | Matthew Abood | Swimming | 🇦🇺 Australia | 2007–2016 | 70.9 |
| 266 | David Popovici | Swimming | 🇷🇴 Romania | 2019–active | 70.4 |
| 267 | Kasey Carlson | Swimming | 🇺🇸 United States | 2007–2013 | 70.3 |
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.
Related rankings
Greatest Boxers of all timeGreatest active SwimmersGreatest retired SwimmersGreatest female of all timeGreatest male of all timeGreatest Swimmers from United StatesGreatest Swimmers from GermanyGreatest Swimmers from AustraliaGreatest Swimmers from NetherlandsGreatest Swimmers from United KingdomGreatest Swimmers from ItalyGreatest Swimmers from Canada