Discover the Top 10 Greatest Swimmers of All Time: A Must-Read for All Swimming Fans

The story of some of the most amazing swimmers of all time. The Heroics of Mark Spitz and Phelps, the longevity of Ryan Lochte. The technology used by Ian Thorpe.
Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps

Considered by many to be the greatest swimmer of all time, Phelps won a record 23 Olympic gold medals and 39 World Championship gold medals over the course of his career. He also holds multiple world records.

Personal Details

Information Detail
Full Name Michael Fred Phelps II
Date of Birth June 30, 1985
Place of Birth Baltimore , Maryland
Country of Birth United States of America
Height 6 Feet, 4 Inches
Weight 194 lb
Spouse Name Nicole Johnson
Nick Name The Baltimore Bullet , Flying Fish
Coach Bob Bowman

Michael Phelps Olympic Medals 

Phelps is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all times. He is not a great of the modern era but across the generations. He first qualified and participated in the 200o Sydney Olympics at the age of 15. He did not win a medal , but showed clear glimpses of the future champion. He participated in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. He won a total of 28 medals at the Olympics  as shown in the table.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 23
Silver 3
Bronze 2

 

 

Mark Spitz

A dominant force in the 1970s, Spitz won seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, breaking the record for most gold medals won by a single athlete at a single Games.

Information Detail
Full Name Mark Andrew Spitz
Date of Birth February 10, 1950
Place of Birth Modesto , California
Country of Birth United States of America
Height 6 Feet, 0 Inches
Weight 161 lb
Spouse Name
Nick Name Mark the Shark
Coach

Mark Spitz Olympic Medals 

Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in the 1972 Munich Olympics, this was the highest medals in a single Olympic before it was broken by his countryman Michael Phelps winning 8 golds in Beijing. Spitz participated in two Olympics 1968 in Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics after which he retired. He was only 22 years old then.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 9
Silver 1
Bronze 1

 

 

Ian Thorpe

A dominant force in the pool during the early 2000s, Thorpe won five Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship gold medals.

Information Detail
Full Name Ian James Thorpe
Date of Birth 13 October 1982
Place of Birth Sydney, New South Wales
Country of Birth Australia
Height 6 Feet, 5 Inches
Weight 229 lb
Spouse Name
Nick Name Thorpedo
Coach Doug Frost, Tracey Menzies

Ian Thorpe Olympic Medals 

Thorpe was the biggest Australian hope in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He did not disappoint his fans and not only won three golds but also set world records. As a build up to the 2004 Athens Olympics , Thorpe was considered as a challenger to the seven golds on Mark Spitz. He could however only win two golds.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 5
Silver 2
Bronze 2

 

 

 

Pieter van den Hoogenband

A Dutch swimmer, van den Hoogenband won three Olympic gold medals and six World Championship gold medals.

Information Detail
Full Name Pieter Cornelis Martijn van den Hoogenband
Date of Birth 14 March 1978
Place of Birth Maastricht, Limburg,
Country of Birth Netherlands
Height 6 Feet, 4 Inches
Weight 176 lb
Spouse Name Marie-José Crooijmans
Nick Name The Flying Dutchman , The Dutch Dolphin
Coach

Pieter Van Den Hoogenband Olympic Medals

Hoogenband was 18 years old when he participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He did not win anything but showed great promise. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics he won 2 Golds, followed by another Gold in the 2004 Athens games. His rivalry with Thorpe was the highlight of the games.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 3
Silver 2
Bronze 2

 

Ian Thorpe Olympic Medals Ian Thorpe Olympic Medals Ian Thorpe Olympic Medals Ian Thorpe Olympic Medals 

Johnny Weissmuller

An American swimmer, Weissmuller was known for his powerful freestyle stroke and set multiple world records during his career. He also went on to become a Hollywood actor, most famously known for playing Tarzan in the movies.

Information Details
Full Name Johann Peter Weißmüller
Date of Birth June 2, 1904
Place of Birth Freidorf, Austria-Hungary
Country of Birth
Height 6 Feet, 3 Inches
Weight 190 lb
Spouse Name Maria Gertrude Baumann
Nick Name
Coach Bill Bachrach

Johnny Weissmuller Olympic Medals

Johnny was possibly the first great Olympic swimmer. He not only took part in the swimming but was also a part of the bronze medal winning American water polo team. He participated in the 1924 Paris and 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 5
Silver
Bronze 1

 

Bill BachrachBill Bachrach

Ryan Lochte

American swimmer, Lochte won twelve Olympic medals, which include six golds, three silvers, and three bronzes. He has also set multiple world records in his career.

Information Details
Full Name Ryan Steven Lochte
Date of Birth August 3, 1984
Place of Birth Rochester , New York
Country of Birth United States
Height 6 Feet, 2 Inches
Weight 195 lb
Spouse Name
Nick Name
Coach

Ryan Lochte Olympic Medals

Lochte lived for the better part of his career in the shadow on team mate Phelps. He first participated in the 2004 Athens games and won a gold and a silver. 2008 Beijing games saw him win two golds and two bronze medals. In the 2012 Olympics he another two golds , two silver medals and a bronze. He was back in the 2016 Olympic games winning another gold.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 6
Silver 3
Bronze 3

 

 

Pieter Van Den Hoogenband Olympic MedalsPieter Van Den Hoogenband Olympic Medals

Kieren Perkins

An Australian swimmer, Perkins won two Olympic gold medals in the 1500m freestyle, and was the first person to break the 15-minute barrier in the event.

Information Details
Full Name Kieren John Perkins
Date of Birth 14 August 1973
Place of Birth Brisbane, Queensland
Country of Birth Australia
Height 6 Feet, 4 Inches
Weight 198 lb
Spouse Name Karen Davis
Nick Name
Coach

Kieren Perkins Olympics Medals

Perkins won the Olympic gold in the 1500 meter event in the 1992 games and then went on to defend his title in the 1996 games. He also won the silver in the same event in the 2000 games. He is the only swimmer to have won a medal in the 1500 meters in three Olympics.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 2
Silver 2
Bronze

 

Ryan Lochte Olympic Medals

Lochte lived for the better part of his career in the shadow on team mate Phelps. He first participated in the 2004 Athens games and won a gold and a silver. 2008 Beijing games saw him win two golds and two bronze medals. In the 2012 Olympics he another two golds , two silver medals and a bronze. He was back in the 2016 Olympic games winning another gold.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 6
Silver 3
Bronze 3

 

Grant Hackett

An Australian swimmer, Hackett won two Olympic gold medals in the 1500m freestyle, and held the world record in the event for over a decade.

Information Details
Full Name Grant George Hackett
Date of Birth 9 May 1980
Place of Birth Southport , Queensland
Country of Birth Australia
Height 6 Feet, 6 Inches
Weight 212 lb
Spouse Name Sharlene Fletcher
Nick Name
Coach

Grant Hackett Olympic Medals

Grant participated in three Olympics starting the 2000 event in Sydney, 2004 at Athens and ended his careers at the 2008 Beijing games. He won 3 golds , 3 silver and 1 bronze medal in his glittering career.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 3
Silver 3
Bronze 1

 

Michael Klim

An Australian swimmer, Klim won six Olympic medals, including three golds, and set multiple world records during his career.

Information Details
Full Name Michael George Klim
Date of Birth 13 August 1977
Place of Birth Gydnia
Country of Birth Poland
Height 6 Feet, 3 Inches
Weight 179 lb
Spouse Name Michelle Owen
Nick Name
Coach

 

Michael Klim Olympic Medals

In the 1996 Olympics he was expected to win the 200 m freestyle , but could not even qualify for the finals. He however on a bronze in the 4*100 medley. Apart from his silver in the 100 m butterfly at the Sydney games all his medals came in relays.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 2
Silver 3
Bronze 1

Michael Gross

Nick named the Albatross he was possibly the greatest German Swimmer

Information Details
Full Name Michael Gross
Date of Birth 17 June 1964
Place of Birth Frankfurt, Hesse
Country of Birth West Germany
Height 6 Feet, 7 Inches
Weight 194 lb
Spouse Name
Nick Name The Albatross
Coach

Michael Gross Olympic Medals

He was a revelation in the 1984 Los Angeles games. Germany was not a swimming powerhouse but many believed that had he been in the American team he would surely have taken a shot at the record of Mark Spitz. He also participated in the Seoul Olympics.

Type Of Medal Number of Medals
Gold 3
Silver 2
Bronze 1

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