When the Olympics take place, we're all captivated by the performances of the world's top elite swimmers. They set world records and glide through the water with impressive speed and elegant technique.
Over the years, some swimmers have truly stood out from the crowd.
On the top 10 list of the very best elite swimmers, you'll find both men and women.
10 of the Greatest Elite Swimmers - The Path to Success
The best swimmers in the world are crowned among both men and women. On the men's side, there's always been clarity on who's the best throughout history. It's different for women, where there is more uncertainty.
Societal development complicates the naming of the best. For example, the championships between 1960 and 1990 were heavily influenced by doping. This has sparked discussions about the legitimacy of those named the best when some top performers later tested positive for doping. In the years following the Fall of the Wall in 1989, it was revealed that most East German swimmers from the former GDR regime were systematically doped during championships.
Moreover, naming the 10 best has been challenging because many new disciplines have been added over the last 20 years.
Below is the ranking of the top 10 elite swimmers in both the men's and women's categories.
The 10 Best Swimmers in World History – Men
- Michael Phelps, USA (1985 -)
- Mark Spitz, USA (1950 -)
- Johnny Weissmuller, USA (1904-1984)
- Matt Biondi, USA (1964 -)
- Ian Thorpe, Australia (1982 -)
- Vladimir Salnikov, Soviet Union (1960 -)
- Alexander Popov, Russia (1971 -)
- Duke Kahanamoku, USA (1890 – 1968)
- Michael Gross, Germany (1964 -)
- Don Schollander, USA (1946 -)
The 10 Best Swimmers in World History – Women
- Dawn Fraser, Australia (1937 -)
- Tracy Caulkins, USA (1963 -)
- Kirstin Otto, GDR (1966 -)
- Kornelia Ender, GDR (1958 -)
- Janet Evans, USA (1971 -)
- Shane Gould, Australia (1958 -)
- Krisztina Egerszegi, Hungary (1974 -)
- Martha Norelius, USA (1908-1955)
- Debbie Meyer, USA (1952 -)
- Ragnhild Hveger, Denmark (1920-2011)
Five of the Best Danish Elite Swimmers
Among the top 10 lists of the very best elite swimmers globally, one Dane is featured – Ragnhild Hveger. Her swimming career was significantly impacted by World War II. Before it broke out, she had won 3 gold medals at the European Championships in 1938 and was poised to become the leading female swimmer worldwide. From 1936 to 1942, she managed to set a total of 42 individual world records.
In recent decades, other prominent female names have dominated the scene at the Danish Swimming Federation.
The federation is the sports organization in Denmark where our elite swimmers are represented. On their website, you can find information about meets, times, and performances. The Danish Swimming Federation also compiles statistics and data from all the competitions in which the country's best swimmers participate.
The 5 Best Danish Elite Swimmers in Recent Times Are:
- Jeanette Ottesen
- Lotte Friis
- Rikke Møller Pedersen
- Pernille Blume
- Benny Nielsen
Five of the Sharpest Swimmers from Abroad
Michael Phelps (1985 -)
When it comes to naming the sharpest swimmers from abroad, it's impossible not to mention the American Michael Phelps. Today, Michael Phelps is considered the best swimmer globally. He's been named the best on four occasions (in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007).
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, he broke world records at both the World Championships and the Olympics. He is currently the world's most decorated swimmer, with a total of 28 medals, 23 of which are gold.
Debbie Meyer (1952 -)
For many female swimmers, Debbie Meyer is a role model. In 1968, she became the first female swimmer to win three individual gold medals at the Olympics. Three times in her career, she was named the world's female swimmer of the year (in 1967, 1968, and 1969).
Mark Spitz (1950 -)
Before Michael Phelps made his mark worldwide, it was Mark Spitz who was the best male elite swimmer globally. In 1972, he won seven Olympic gold medals. Over his career, he set 26 individual world records.
He was named the best swimmer in the world three times (in 1967, 1971, and 1972).
Fanny Durack (1889 – 1956)
Fanny Durack is still renowned today as the first female swimmer to rise to the top of the international rankings. When women debuted at the Olympics in 1912, she won gold in the 100-meter freestyle. She later held records in five different disciplines.
Martha Norelius (1908 – 1955)
Among the sharpest female swimmers is Martha Norelius from the USA, who became known as "the first woman to swim like a man."
Her technique and mobility in the water allowed her to set 29 world records in a single year (1927).
World Records
There are several ways that Danish and international elite swimmers can set world records. Some records are timed, while others are based on the number of gold medals won in a championship.
- Michael Phelps – world record in 200-meter medley (1.54.80 minutes)
- Caeleb Dressel – world record in 100-meter butterfly (49.50 seconds)
- Regan Smith – world record in 200-meter backstroke (2.03.35 minutes)
- Willy den Ouden – holder of the world record for the most years (100-meter freestyle from 1936-1956)
- Kornelia Ender – first woman to win four gold medals at an Olympics (in 1976)
- Kirstin Otto – most gold medals won at an Olympics (6 pieces)
- Dawn Fraser – first woman to swim 100 meters in under 1 minute (1962)
- Britta Steffen – world record in two disciplines (50 and 100-meter freestyle)
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What Does It Take to Become an Elite Swimmer?
A common trait among all elite swimmers is that they started swimming as children. They began training around 5-6 years old and had the opportunity to compete in club championships during their childhood and teenage years.
The development of an elite swimmer begins with participating in club meets in their home country. Both technical and physical training are necessary to become an elite-level swimmer. Training in the water alone isn’t sufficient. The best swimmers spend a significant amount of time on strength training as well.
As can be observed in both male and female swimmers, they are muscular. A strong, robust physique is required to generate speed in the water. To achieve this, muscles need to be strong, and endurance must be at its peak.
An elite swimmer follows a personalized, tailored training program that includes swimming, strength training, and massage. Additionally, there's a diet plan to ensure the swimmer receives all the proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins necessary to perform at their best.
Training Must be Your Primary Occupation
As an elite swimmer, your training will be your job. This means you'll spend 20-30 hours a week being physically active. In Denmark, you will be affiliated with the Danish Swimming Federation when competing at the elite level. Here, you’ll be connected with a coach, mental trainer, physiotherapist, and masseuse. You will become part of a team of professional specialists, each with their role regarding your development.
Both the national and international levels of swimming are high, and therefore, strict demands are made concerning your daily routine, lifestyle, and training. You are on a contract, committing to meet training requirements.
Important to Know About Diet as an Elite Swimmer
It's not just training and organizing physiotherapy, massage, and strength training you'll need to consider to become a skilled swimmer.
Your diet is crucial as well.
When you are physically active for up to 6-8 hours a day, it necessitates a carefully planned diet. You need to consume between 5,000-6,000 calories daily. The diet must consist of the right amounts of energy, protein, and vitamins.
Mindset and Motivation
Making swimming the center of your life can seem overwhelming. Therefore, it is essential to partner with a coach you have a good rapport with. Additionally, you should consider when you want to train, whom you want to train with, and how you want your development to proceed.
It's crucial to have a personal coach familiar with swimming. They will be the ideal person to assemble your training plan and continually offer you new challenges to aid your development.
The best approach is to set goals and have ambitions to help maintain motivation.
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