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Swimming at the Summer Olympics

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

The official flag of the Russian Olympic Committee, used during the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games.

Swimming has been a part of every modern Summer Olympics. People from all over the world come together to compete in swimming races, showing amazing speed and skill. Swimming is very popular at the Olympics and has the second-highest number of events where athletes can win medals, after athletics.

Women have been able to compete in swimming since the 1912 Summer Olympics, which made the sport even more exciting. Over the years, many incredible swimmers have become heroes by breaking records and winning gold medals. Watching the Olympic swimming races is a favorite for many fans around the world.

Summary

Swimming has been part of every modern Summer Olympics, making it one of the most popular sports in the games. Women were allowed to compete in swimming starting in 1912, and since then, many amazing swimmers have won medals. Today, swimming has the second-highest number of events where athletes can win medals, just behind athletics.

The sport includes many different races, such as freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, as well as relay races where teams of swimmers work together. These events take place in a pool, and athletes from all over the world come to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Long-course swimming

Swimming has been part of every modern Summer Olympics, and women have been allowed to compete since 1912. Over the years, many different swimming events have taken place, including the 400 metre breaststroke and the 4 × 50 yard freestyle relay. Some events were only held once, like the 500 metre freestyle in 1896 and the 1000 metre freestyle in 1900.

Current programme
Event9619000408122024283236485256606468727680848892962000040812162024Years
50 metres freestyleXNot yet reintroducedXXXXXXXXXX11
100 metres freestyleXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX29
200 metres freestyle ()XXNot yet reintroducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX17
400 metres freestyleXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX28
800 metre freestyleXNot yet reintroducedXX3
1500 metre freestyleXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX28
100 metre backstrokeXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX27
200 metre backstrokeXNot yet reintroducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX17
100 metre breaststrokeNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX14
200 metre breaststrokeXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX27
100 metre butterflyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX15
200 metre butterflyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX18
200 metre individual medleyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXX13
400 metre individual medleyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX16
4 × 100 metre freestyle relayNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXX14
4 × 200 metre freestyle relayXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX27
4 × 100 metre medley relayNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX17
Events1276666666667810151513131516161616161616161717
Current programme
Event9619000408122024283236485256606468727680848892962000040812162024
50 metre freestyleNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXX10
100 metre freestyleNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX26
200 metre freestyle ()Not yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX15
400 metre freestyleNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX25
800 metre freestyleNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX15
1500 metre freestyleNot yet introducedXX2
100 metre backstrokeNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX24
200 metre backstrokeNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX15
100 metre breaststrokeNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX15
200 metre breaststrokeNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX24
100 metre butterflyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX18
200 metre butterflyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX15
200 metre individual medleyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXX13
400 metre individual medleyNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX16
4 × 100 metre freestyle relayNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX26
4 × 200 metre freestyle relayNot yet introducedXXXXXXXX8
4 × 100 metre medley relayNot yet introducedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX17
Events23555555678141413131415151616161616161717
Current programme
Event96190004082024
4 × 100 metre medley relayNot yet introducedXX2
Events11

Marathon swimming

Marathon swimming is a part of the Olympic swimming events. It involves long-distance races in open water, adding an exciting challenge to the swimming competitions at the Summer Olympics.

Event0812162024Years
Men's 10 kmXXXXX5
Women's 10 kmXXXXX5
Events22222

Medal table

Updated after the 2024 Summer Olympics

Swimming has been part of every modern Summer Olympics, with women allowed to compete since 1912. It is one of the biggest swimming events in the world, with many countries competing for medals. This table shows how many medals each country has won in swimming up to the 2024 Olympics.

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 United States265192151608
2 Australia767977232
3 East Germany38322292
4 Hungary32282181
5 Japan24283284
6 Netherlands23212165
7 Great Britain21353187
8 China18241961
9 Germany15203267
10 Soviet Union12212659
11 Canada12203163
12 France12172251
13 Sweden11161441
14 South Africa88622
15 Italy782035
16 Unified Team63110
17 Russia59923
18 Ukraine4329
19 Romania42511
20 Ireland4037
21 West Germany351422
22 Denmark35715
23 Tunisia3014
24 Brazil241117
25 Zimbabwe2417
26 Australasia2338
27 Spain2248
28 ROC (ROC)2215
29 New Zealand2136
30 Austria16512
31 United Team of Germany15612
32 Greece1528
33 Poland1326
34 South Korea1315
35 Belgium1225
36 Costa Rica1124
37 Argentina1113
 Bulgaria1113
39 Yugoslavia1102
40 Mexico1012
 Suriname1012
42 Kazakhstan1001
 Lithuania1001
 Singapore1001
45 Hong Kong0224
46 Belarus0213
47 Slovakia0202
48 Finland0145
49 Cuba0112
 Norway0112
51 Croatia0101
 Serbia0101
 Slovenia0101
54 Switzerland0044
55 Philippines0022
56 Trinidad and Tobago0011
 Venezuela0011
Totals (57 entries)6336326311,896

Nations

Swimming has been part of every modern Summer Olympics, making it a long-standing and exciting event. It became open to women in 1912, allowing everyone to compete. Today, swimming has the second-most events with medals awarded, just after athletics.

Nation960004081220242832364852566064687276808488929600040812162024Years
 Afghanistan112
 Albania12222227
 Algeria511365113210
 American Samoa22214
 Andorra1221226
 Angola5831212222211
 Antigua and Barbuda2122226
 Argentina4451177378456237131011455322
 Armenia121122228
 Aruba2122226
 Australasia592
 Australia165555101026263224242817312533334441434739374426
 Austria2311838231073215662486121167526
 Azerbaijan1241222228
 Bahamas22121444132212
 Bahrain222221228
 Bangladesh211222122210
 Barbados1112344122111
 Belarus109988867
 Belgium17512656106326410747749713102425
 Benin2222226
 Bermuda55211611212212
 Bhutan112
 Bolivia1122222222211
 Bosnia and Herzegovina2221122229
 Botswana22124
 Brazil28161312454412997159101323251936272023
 British Virgin Islands112
 Brunei1123
 Bulgaria33513851664435414
 Burkina Faso1222226
 Burundi2122226
 Cambodia4222222229
 Cameroon122225
 Canada113261414998812153838373129273920273330262926
 Cape Verde222
 Cayman Islands3222226
 Central African Republic12124
 Chile4411232122211
 China211142416212128425145303214
 Chinese Taipei14358813135323213
 Colombia23194521115535342218
 Comoros11224
 Republic of the Congo1222122129
 Cook Islands122125
 Costa Rica1121813212212214
 Croatia1117131342238
 Cuba2221323722122214
 Cyprus422752122210
 Czechoslovakia49133423313156817
 Czech Republic106121068958
 Democratic Republic of the Congo122
 Denmark15145218692433621315810769101511727
 Djibouti11224
 Dominica1223
 Dominican Republic1122226
 East Germany24372330265
 Timor-Leste222
 Ecuador311215312334313
 Egypt16328522623374315
 El Salvador147212111222212
 Equatorial Guinea2113
 Eritrea122
 Estonia24146922328
 Ethiopia22114
 Fiji3532211222211
 Finland36121121131563111211212775785227
 France47431320135817161619916181613162525251921353130273328
 Gabon1223
 The Gambia1123
 Georgia11212227
 Germany6451719224918263824283535253029312520
 Ghana2223
 Great Britain725181826211522322622323327364032333128393237244428323328
 Greece151152252234281428181415121720
 Grenada1212226
 Guam4721113229
 Guatemala136152141122213
 Guinea21212227
 Guinea-Bissau11
 Guyana1122226
 Haiti12224
 Honduras6341222222211
 Hong Kong421332481083974379718
 Hungary11210868513151516181914168131313211825283235342328
 Iceland8224434623978732217
 Independent Olympic Participants41
 India175212214123212
 Independent Olympic Athletes21
 Individual Neutral Athletes41
 Indonesia1321121632122213
 Iran1111111119
 Iraq211115
 Ireland2474325254234391216
 Israel11426123144102757132818
 Italy2424652107231610241313262124142129343538384026
 Ivory Coast212215
 Jamaica114143122210
 Japan2610232122192138201515222325272120312936352923
 Jordan222222228
 Kazakhstan78111273128
 Kenya122222228
 Kosovo2223
 Kuwait2352332122211
 Kyrgyzstan12186322128
 Laos12212227
 Latvia1445222229
 Lebanon122441252222213
 Lesotho11
 Libya42212127
 Liechtenstein1222
 Lithuania28610946679
 Luxembourg24341141121324132117
 North Macedonia444222228
 Madagascar312222222210
 Malawi2212226
 Malaysia227211215945232216
 Maldives2122222229
 Mali22222127
 Malta122222228
 Marshall Islands222225
 Mauritania11
 Mauritius6222222229
 Mexico39841110272297121072766934621
 Federated States of Micronesia22222227
 Moldova510322227
 Monaco1111111229
 Mongolia21222227
 Montenegro12224
 Morocco11112227
 Mozambique52231222222212
 Myanmar1111116
 Namibia211115
 Nepal222222228
 Netherlands4741214514121319261719151216119202416181517162024
 Netherlands Antilles311215
 New Zealand1141252469871114813151797921
 Nicaragua211222222210
 Niger21212227
 Nigeria22222127
 Norway5211113147326514324320
 Oman114115
 Pakistan4231122222211
 Palau21112227
 Palestine11222227
 Panama131112222122213
 Papua New Guinea21221227
 Paraguay32221222229
 Peru363345222322322316
 Philippines235318827734452455222222
 Poland2471545385141187151920172119
 Portugal114535221291271110759518
 Puerto Rico149125367364222215
 Qatar11122217
 Rhodesia41
 Romania1222352510141176464317
 Russia4302830353536368
 Rwanda22222227
 Saar11
 Saint Kitts and Nevis11
 Saint Lucia21111217
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2112226
 Samoa221
 San Marino22112211110
 Saudi Arabia2111126
 Senegal2222222229
 Serbia and Montenegro472
 Serbia986755
 Seychelles4122222227
 Sierra Leone12224
 Singapore134555855534513
 Slovakia342353228
 Slovenia55611101210459
 Solomon Islands112
 South Africa1151368310714824201317817
 South Korea411315420171916158121514
 Soviet Union181023213126313927299
 Spain245631011139141181121182316231424112022
 Sri Lanka11121222222212
 Sudan1122226
 Suriname2134222221211
 Swaziland1212111229
 Sweden1122413149258125151416151824241817181615181211101228
 Switzerland421488924102313104591377813823
 Syria1121322119
 Tajikistan2212226
 Tanzania22224
 Thailand2256862222211
 Togo12114
 Tonga12224
 Trinidad and Tobago11112333122212
 Tunisia211122422210
 Turkey22423479116411813
 Turkmenistan2222226
 Uganda121222228
 Ukraine13252723147958
 United Arab Emirates651111121210
 United States12258722262327282830283148525151434440444843434947534829
 Uruguay215412112443222216
 Uzbekistan6101572227
 Vanuatu21
 Venezuela11241236754131064314
 Vietnam123211222211122215
 Virgin Islands27631121122212
 West Germany27442224295
 Yemen1221216
 Yugoslavia6463192654333922
 Zambia222222226
 Zimbabwe22441322122210
Nations412414171923282029344833454251525141677792117150152162166169182194
Swimmers19763210012011611818212824824931923538040546853247133349463364176295493710269509501000852
Year960004081220242832364852566064687276808488929600040812162024

Olympic records

Main article: List of Olympic records in swimming

Swimming has been part of every modern Summer Olympics, making it a long-standing and exciting event. Women were allowed to compete in swimming starting in 1912, adding more variety to the games. Today, swimming holds the second-highest number of events where medals are awarded, just behind athletics. These records show the amazing achievements of swimmers from around the world.

Notable changes to the sport

Over the years, swimming times have gotten faster because of better training and new ideas in the sport. In the early Olympics, races were held in open water like the sea or rivers instead of pools. The first Olympic pool was built for the 1908 Games, and since then, pools have been made better to help swimmers go faster.

Many rules and styles have changed too. Male swimmers used to wear full-body suits that slowed them down, but now they wear special swimsuits that help them move quickly. New strokes like the butterfly were added later, and more races for both men and women have been included over time. Today, swimmers compete in many different events, including exciting relays and long-distance open water swims.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Swimming at the Summer Olympics, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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