Who is the greatest Swimming Athlete of all time?

Michael Phelps leads Swimming with a verified GOAT Score of 98.1/100.

How is the Swimming GOAT ranking calculated?

Five verified categories are weighted against 288 reference records. Only eligible profiles receive a score.

How many Swimming swimmers are ranked?

267 eligible Swimming athletes currently have a published GOAT Score, from 288 reference records.

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Swimming: the greatest of all time

GOAT Rank's data-driven ranking

Olympic medal hauls, world records and multi-Games dominance in the pool. Each swimmers below is scored on verified career data and normalised against the full Swimming reference cohort — no shortlists, no unverified provisional numbers.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Michael Phelps is the highest-ranked of the swimmers in Swimming, with an in-sport GOAT Score of 98.1. Next are Katie Ledecky (94.8), Therese Alshammar (90.3).

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

21 records fall below the data threshold and are excluded from this ranking. Eligibility rules →

Showing 267 of 267 ranked swimmers# = official in-sport rank

Category

StrokeCountryEraStatusSort

#	Athlete	Era	Olympic golds	Olympic medals	World titles (LC)	World records set	Olympic Games	GOAT
1	🇺🇸Michael PhelpsRetired	2000–2016	23	28	26	39	5	98.1
2	🇺🇸Katie LedeckyActive	2012–present	9	14	21	16	4	94.8
3	🇸🇪Therese AlshammarRetired	1994–2016	—	3	—	—	6	90.3
4	🇩🇪Michael GrossRetired	1981–1991	—	6	—	12	—	90.3
5	🇦🇺Cate CampbellRetired	2008–2024	4	8	—	—	4	90.1
6	🇺🇸Robert FinkeActive	2018–present	—	4	—	—	—	90.1
7	🇺🇸Tracy CaulkinsRetired	1977–1984	—	—	—	5	—	89.8
8	🇿🇼Kirsty CoventryRetired	2000–2016	—	7	—	2	—	89.7
9	🇩🇪Roland MatthesRetired	1966–1976	—	8	—	—	—	89.6
10	🇳🇱Inge de BruijnRetired	1991–2007	4	8	—	11	—	89.5
11	🇺🇸Natalie CoughlinRetired	1998–2016	3	12	—	—	—	89.4
12	🇺🇸Dara TorresRetired	1982–2012	4	12	—	—	—	89.4
13	🇺🇸Aaron PeirsolRetired	1999–2011	5	7	—	—	—	89.2
14	🇬🇧Adam PeatyActive	2012–present	3	—	—	—	—	88.7
15	🇸🇪Sarah SjöströmActive	2007–present	3	7	—	—	—	88.6
16	🇺🇸Jenny ThompsonRetired	1991–2004	—	12	—	—	—	88.6
17	🇩🇰Ragnhild HvegerRetired	1936–1952	—	—	—	—	—	88.2
18	🇷🇺Alexander PopovRetired	1990–2004	4	9	—	—	—	88.0
19	🇩🇪Franziska van AlmsickRetired	1991–2004	—	10	—	—	—	88.0
20	🇺🇦Yana KlochkovaRetired	1996–2008	4	—	—	—	—	87.9
21	🇮🇹Gregorio PaltrinieriActive	2011–present	—	5	—	—	—	87.9
22	🇿🇦Chad le ClosActive	2008–present	1	4	—	—	—	87.8
23	🇨🇦Alex BaumannRetired	1978–1987	—	—	—	4	—	87.8
24	🇺🇸Johnny WeissmullerRetired	1921–1929	—	—	—	—	—	87.6
25	🇺🇸Mark SpitzRetired	1965–1972	9	11	—	—	—	87.5
26	🇭🇺László CsehRetired	2003–2021	—	6	—	—	—	87.4
27	🇭🇺Tamás DarnyiRetired	1985–1993	4	—	—	—	—	87.3
28	🇺🇸Nathan AdrianRetired	2007–2021	5	8	—	—	3	87.3
29	🇧🇷Ana Marcela CunhaActive	2006–present	—	—	—	—	—	87.3
30	🇩🇪Kornelia EnderRetired	1971–1978	—	8	—	—	—	87.2
31	🇷🇺Vladimir SalnikovRetired	1976–1988	4	—	—	—	—	87.1
32	🇺🇸Lilly KingActive	2016–present	—	7	—	—	—	87.1
33	🇦🇺Emma McKeonRetired	2012–2024	6	14	—	—	—	87.0
34	🇪🇸Mireia BelmonteActive	2006–present	1	4	—	—	—	87.0
35	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Rebecca AdlingtonRetired	2004–2013	—	4	—	1	—	87.0
36	🇭🇺Katinka HosszúRetired	2004–2023	3	—	—	—	—	86.9
37	🇦🇺Dawn FraserRetired	1955–1964	4	8	—	—	—	86.8
38	🇭🇺Krisztina EgerszegiRetired	1988–1996	5	7	—	—	—	86.8
39	🇩🇪Kristin OttoRetired	1982–1989	6	—	—	—	—	86.8
40	🇺🇸Duke KahanamokuRetired	1911–1932	—	—	—	—	—	86.8
41	🇦🇺Kieren PerkinsRetired	1990–2000	2	—	—	—	—	86.7
42	🇺🇸Ryan MurphyActive	2013–present	—	9	—	—	—	86.7
43	🇺🇸Mary T. MeagherRetired	1979–1988	—	5	—	7	—	86.7
44	🇺🇸Sippy WoodheadRetired	1977–1984	—	—	—	6	—	86.6
45	🇺🇸Shirley BabashoffRetired	1972–1978	—	8	—	11	—	86.5
46	🇩🇪Paul BiedermannRetired	2004–2016	—	—	—	2	—	86.5
47	🇫🇷Alain BernardRetired	2002–2012	—	4	—	4	—	86.5
48	🇯🇲Alia AtkinsonRetired	2002–2022	—	—	—	—	—	86.4
49	🇺🇸Janet EvansRetired	1986–1996	4	5	—	—	—	86.3
50	🇩🇪Antje BuschschulteRetired	1994–2008	—	7	—	—	—	86.3

1–50 of 267 athletes

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Compare top two: Phelps vs Ledecky

Top 10 Swimming swimmers of all time

The ten highest verified GOAT Scores across every era.

1🇺🇸Michael Phelps2000–201698.1
2🇺🇸Katie Ledecky2012–present94.8
3🇸🇪Therese Alshammar1994–201690.3
4🇩🇪Michael Gross1981–199190.3
5🇦🇺Cate Campbell2008–202490.1
6🇺🇸Robert Finke2018–present90.1
7🇺🇸Tracy Caulkins1977–198489.8
8🇿🇼Kirsty Coventry2000–201689.7
9🇩🇪Roland Matthes1966–197689.6
10🇳🇱Inge de Bruijn1991–200789.5

By position

Medley

1🇺🇸Michael Phelps2000–201698.1
2🇭🇺Katinka Hosszú2004–202386.9
3🇺🇸Ryan Lochte2004–202186.1
4🇫🇷Léon Marchand2019–present83.8

Freestyle

1🇺🇸Katie Ledecky2012–present94.8
2🇩🇰Ragnhild Hveger1936–195288.2
3🇩🇪Franziska van Almsick1991–200488.0
4🇺🇸Johnny Weissmuller1921–192987.6
5🇦🇺Dawn Fraser1955–196486.8

Freestyle and butterfly

1🇩🇪Michael Gross1981–199190.3
2🇺🇸Jenny Thompson1991–200488.6
3🇳🇱Conny van Bentum1980–199284.4
4🇦🇺Michael Klim1996–200784.3
5🇬🇧Brian Brinkley1970–197881.6

Freestyle sprint

1🇦🇺Cate Campbell2008–202490.1
2🇺🇸Nathan Adrian2007–202187.3
3🇳🇱Pieter van den Hoogenband1995–200884.3
4🇧🇷César Cielo2006–201681.4
5🇫🇷Frédérick Bousquet2000–201680.9

Distance freestyle

1🇺🇸Robert Finke2018–present90.1
2🇷🇺Vladimir Salnikov1976–198887.1
3🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Rebecca Adlington2004–201387.0
4🇦🇺Kieren Perkins1990–200086.7
5🇺🇸Janet Evans1986–199686.3

Individual medley

1🇺🇸Tracy Caulkins1977–198489.8
2🇺🇦Yana Klochkova1996–200887.9
3🇨🇦Alex Baumann1978–198787.8
4🇭🇺Tamás Darnyi1985–199387.3
5🇹🇹George Bovell2000–201684.0

Backstroke and medley

1🇿🇼Kirsty Coventry2000–201689.7
2🇺🇸Shaine Casas2018–present79.3

Backstroke

1🇩🇪Roland Matthes1966–197689.6
2🇺🇸Natalie Coughlin1998–201689.4
3🇺🇸Aaron Peirsol1999–201189.2
4🇭🇺Krisztina Egerszegi1988–199686.8
5🇺🇸Ryan Murphy2013–present86.7

By country

United States

1🇺🇸Michael Phelps2000–201698.1
2🇺🇸Katie Ledecky2012–present94.8
3🇺🇸Robert Finke2018–present90.1
4🇺🇸Tracy Caulkins1977–198489.8
5🇺🇸Natalie Coughlin1998–201689.4

Sweden

1🇸🇪Therese Alshammar1994–201690.3
2🇸🇪Sarah Sjöström2007–present88.6
3🇸🇪Pär Arvidsson1976–198482.4
4🇸🇪Gunnar Larsson1968–197481.6
5🇸🇪Lars Frölander1992–200880.2

Germany

1🇩🇪Michael Gross1981–199190.3
2🇩🇪Roland Matthes1966–197689.6
3🇩🇪Franziska van Almsick1991–200488.0
4🇩🇪Kristin Otto1982–198986.8
5🇩🇪Paul Biedermann2004–201686.5

Australia

1🇦🇺Cate Campbell2008–202490.1
2🇦🇺Emma McKeon2012–202487.0
3🇦🇺Dawn Fraser1955–196486.8
4🇦🇺Kieren Perkins1990–200086.7
5🇦🇺Grant Hackett1996–201686.2

Netherlands

1🇳🇱Inge de Bruijn1991–200789.5
2🇳🇱Ranomi Kromowidjojo2008–202185.5
3🇳🇱Sharon van Rouwendaal2012–present84.9
4🇳🇱Conny van Bentum1980–199284.4
5🇳🇱Pieter van den Hoogenband1995–200884.3

United Kingdom

1🇬🇧Adam Peaty2012–present88.7
2🇬🇧Duncan Scott2016–present82.3
3🇬🇧Brian Brinkley1970–197881.6
4🇬🇧Kirsty Balfour2002–200981.2
5🇬🇧Jazmin Carlin2006–201880.3

Denmark

1🇩🇰Ragnhild Hveger1936–195288.2
2🇩🇰Pernille Blume2010–202285.3
3🇩🇰Jakob Andkjær2006–201680.3

Russia

1🇷🇺Alexander Popov1990–200488.0
2🇷🇺Vladimir Salnikov1976–198887.1
3🇷🇺Veronika Andrusenko2008–202183.5
4🇷🇺Vladimir Bure1968–197682.9
5🇷🇺Denis Pankratov1992–200079.8

By era

1920s

1🇺🇸Johnny Weissmuller1921–192987.6
2🇺🇸Gertrude Ederle1921–192884.0

1950s

1🇦🇺Dawn Fraser1955–196486.8
2🇦🇺Murray Rose1956–196485.6
3🇦🇺Jon Henricks1954–196079.2
4🇦🇺John Devitt1955–196078.4

1960s

1🇩🇪Roland Matthes1966–197689.6
2🇺🇸Mark Spitz1965–197287.5
3🇺🇸Don Schollander1962–196884.8
4🇺🇸Debbie Meyer1967–197284.4
5🇷🇺Vladimir Bure1968–197682.9

1970s

1🇺🇸Tracy Caulkins1977–198489.8
2🇨🇦Alex Baumann1978–198787.8
3🇩🇪Kornelia Ender1971–197887.2
4🇷🇺Vladimir Salnikov1976–198887.1
5🇺🇸Mary T. Meagher1979–198886.7

1980s

1🇩🇪Michael Gross1981–199190.3
2🇺🇸Dara Torres1982–201289.4
3🇭🇺Tamás Darnyi1985–199387.3
4🇭🇺Krisztina Egerszegi1988–199686.8
5🇩🇪Kristin Otto1982–198986.8

1990s

1🇸🇪Therese Alshammar1994–201690.3
2🇳🇱Inge de Bruijn1991–200789.5
3🇺🇸Natalie Coughlin1998–201689.4
4🇺🇸Aaron Peirsol1999–201189.2
5🇺🇸Jenny Thompson1991–200488.6

2000s

1🇺🇸Michael Phelps2000–201698.1
2🇦🇺Cate Campbell2008–202490.1
3🇿🇼Kirsty Coventry2000–201689.7
4🇸🇪Sarah Sjöström2007–present88.6
5🇿🇦Chad le Clos2008–present87.8

2010s

1🇺🇸Katie Ledecky2012–present94.8
2🇺🇸Robert Finke2018–present90.1
3🇬🇧Adam Peaty2012–present88.7
4🇮🇹Gregorio Paltrinieri2011–present87.9
5🇺🇸Lilly King2016–present87.1

2020s

1🇦🇺Mollie O'Callaghan2021–present83.9
2🇨🇳Pan Zhanle2021–present82.8
3🇺🇸Gretchen Walsh2021–present82.1
4🇦🇺Iona Anderson2021–present81.3
5🇺🇸Jack Alexy2022–present79.5

By country · By position · By era

Greatest Swimmers from United States Greatest Swimmers from Germany Greatest Swimmers from Australia Greatest Swimmers from Netherlands Greatest Swimmers from United Kingdom Greatest Freestyles of all time Greatest Freestyle sprints of all time Greatest Distance freestyles of all time Greatest Individual medleys of all time Greatest Backstrokes of all time Greatest Swimmers who debuted in the 1960s Greatest Swimmers who debuted in the 1970s Greatest Swimmers who debuted in the 1980s Greatest Swimmers who debuted in the 1990s Greatest Swimmers who debuted in the 2000s Greatest Swimmers who debuted in the 2010s

Swimming GOAT debates

The closest calls in the ranking, with a full side-by-side breakdown.

Phelps vs Ledecky· Phelps ranks higher at 98.1 versus Ledecky at 94.8, a margin of 3.3 points.Ledecky vs Alshammar· Ledecky ranks higher at 94.8 versus Alshammar at 90.3, a margin of 4.5 points.Alshammar vs Gross· Alshammar ranks higher at 90.3 versus Gross at 90.3, a margin of 0.0 points.Gross vs Campbell· Gross ranks higher at 90.3 versus Campbell at 90.1, a margin of 0.2 points.Campbell vs Finke· Campbell ranks higher at 90.1 versus Finke at 90.1, a margin of 0.0 points.

How the Swimming ranking works

Every athlete is scored on five verified components — Dominance (25%), Peak (20%), Longevity (20%), Honours (20%) and Statistics (15%) — normalised against the full Swimming reference cohort rather than a shortlist. A record only receives a published score once it is editorially verified and complete: a season-by-season series, at least three career metrics, documented honours and independent sources. Read the full methodology.

Swimming GOAT — frequently asked

Who is the greatest Swimming Athlete of all time?: Michael Phelps leads Swimming with a verified GOAT Score of 98.1/100.
How is the Swimming GOAT ranking calculated?: Five verified categories are weighted against 288 reference records. Only eligible profiles receive a score.
How many Swimming swimmers are ranked?: 267 eligible Swimming athletes currently have a published GOAT Score, from 288 reference records.