Best Swimmers of All Time
Who are the greatest swimmers of all time? Explore the leading swimmers in Sport Ranking’s historical Swimming ranking, based on results from major international competitions across different eras.
Greatest Men’s Swimmers
Swimming Men
| # | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Phelps | United States | 704 |
| 2 | Ryan Lochte | United States | 361 |
| 3 | Sun Yang | China | 349 |
| 4 | Grant Hackett | Australia | 308 |
| 5 | László Cseh | Hungary | 284 |
| 6 | Ian Thorpe | Australia | 275 |
| 7 | Gregorio Paltrinieri | Italy | 271 |
| 8 | Chad le Clos | South Africa | 261 |
| 9 | Aaron Peirsol | United States | 255 |
| 10 | Alexander Popov | Russia | 254 |
Greatest Women’s Swimmers
Swimming Women
| # | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 545 |
| 2 | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 461 |
| 3 | Katinka Hosszú | Hungary | 439 |
| 4 | Yana Klochkova | Ukraine | 297 |
| 5 | Krisztina Egerszegi | Hungary | 260 |
| 6 | Janet Evans | United States | 259 |
| 6 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 259 |
| 8 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 239 |
| 9 | Inge de Bruijn | Netherlands | 232 |
| 10 | Kaylee McKeown | Australia | 231 |
How the All-Time Ranking Works
The ranking is based on the Olympic Games and the World Championships. The system also includes continental championships, which are weighted according to their importance on the international stage, as well as short-course competitions, which carry a lower point value than events held in a 50-metre pool. Relay events receive three times the points of individual disciplines in order to increase their importance in the national rankings, but they are not included in the individual rankings.
Learn more about Swimming scoring →