March 8th is International Women’s Day — a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In this blog we celebrate the athletic achievements of the best female swimmers since the first official days of women’s swimming over 100 years ago.
Women’s swimming became internationally recognized in 1912. This list of famous female swimmers is chronological and cumulative, from the earliest pioneers of women’s swimming to the latest and greatest in the sport:
Fanny Durack (AUS) 1911 – 1917.
First ever women’s Olympic champion (1912) and set 11 World Records (WR).
Ethelda Bleibtrey (USA) 1919 – 1921.
The only person in Olympic swimming history to win every single event. Back in 1920, there were fewer swimming events (only three), but still impressive!
Gertrude Ederle (USA) 1919 – 1926.
First woman to swim English Channel and broke the record of the fastest man by two hours. Also held every freestyle world record (100 to 800 meters) in 1924.
Sybil Bauer (USA) 1921 – 1926.
Only woman ever to break an existing men’s world record. Broke the world record in backstroke 23 times!
Ragnhild Hveger (DEN) 1935 – 1954.
Held the world record in all freestyle events simultaneously – some lasting 15 years.
Willy den Ouden (NED) 1931 – 1938.
Held the world record in 100 meter freestyle for 23 years. Also the first woman to break the one-minute barrier in the 100 yard freestyle.
Dawn Fraser (AUS) 1955 – 1964.
One of Australia’s all-time most popular athletes and the 100 free world record holder for 16 years (1956-1972).
Donna de Varona (USA) 1960 – 1965.
Set world records in eight different events in three different strokes! Won 37 national titles and two Olympic gold medals. One of the most versatile swimmers ever.
Claudia Kolb (USA) 1963 – 1968.
Best all-around swimmer of her time. Set 23 world records and won both Individual Medley events by wide margins.
Karen Muir (RSA) 1965 – 1969.
Youngest swimmer to ever break a world record. Set 15 world records in backstroke events in a 4 year time span.
Debbie Meyer (USA) 1966 – 1971.
First woman ever to win three individual gold medals at one Olympics. Set 15 world records and was the first woman to break big barriers in distance freestyle events. Was “World Swimmer of the Year” three years in a row.
Shirley Babashoff (USA) 1971 – 1976.
One of the greatest female freestylers. Held six world records, two Olympic golds, and seven silvers.
Tracy Caulkins (USA) 1976 – 1986.
One of the most versatile swimmers ever setting 5 world records and 63 American records in EVERY stroke! Also won 48 national titles, more than any other woman.
Shane Gould (AUS) 1970 – 1973.
Held 11 world records in every freestyle event (100 to 1500 and 200 IM).
Mary T. Meagher (USA) 1978 – 1988.
Nicknamed Madame Butterfly due to her dominance in the butterfly events. She held world records in both butterfly events from 1981 until 2000!
Kristin Otto (GER) 1982 – 1988.
First woman to win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
Janet Evans (USA) 1986-1996.
Greatest female distance swimmer in history with world records in 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles that lasted until very recently (Katie Ledecky).
Krisztina Egerszegi (GER) 1987 – 1997.
Greatest female backstroker in history, winning the 200 backstroke in three successive Olympics.
Penny Heyns (RSA) 1994 – 2000.
One of the greatest female breaststrokers in history. First woman to win both breaststroke events in one Olympics. The only swimmers to break four individual world records in one competition.
Jenny Thompson (USA) 1986 – 2004.
Won 10 Olympic medals (eight gold) and two world records – 100 free in 1992 and 100 fly in 1999.
Dara Torres (USA) 1980 – 2008.
First swimmer to represent the U.S. in five Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2008) and the oldest swimmer to earn a place on the US Olympic team. Won 12 Olympic medals (four of each kind) and held world records in three events.
Amanda Beard (USA) 1996 – 2012.
Second youngest Olympic medalist in American swimming history as a 14-year old at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. She won seven Olympic medals in her career (two gold, four silver, one bronze) and is a former world record holder in the 200 meter breaststroke.
Natalie Coughlin (USA) 2001 – 2016.
First female athlete in modern Olympic history to win six medals in one Olympics and the first woman to win 100-meter backstroke gold in two consecutive Olympics. With 12 Olympic medals, she is one of the most decorated female swimmers ever.
Allison Schmitt (USA) 2008 – 2016.
Training partner with Michael Phelps, Schmitt won five medals at the 2012 Olympic Games (three gold, one silver, one bronze), setting a world record and an Olympic record in the process.
Missy Franklin (USA) 2010 – current.
Five-time Olympic gold medalist and current world record holder in 200 meter backstroke, current American record holder in 100 and 200 backstroke
Katie Ledecky (USA) 2010 – current.
One of the most dominant freestyle swimmers of all time. Five-time Olympic gold medalist and nine-time world champion. Current world record holder in the 400, 800 and 1500 meter freestyle events. Most decorated female athlete of the 2016 Olympic games with four gold, one silver and two world records.
All of these women (and all those not listed) have paved the way for future female swimmers. As a young swimmer myself, I remember putting posters of Tracy Caulkins and Jenny Thompson on my wall and dreaming of being strong and fast like them.
