Each 4 years, we’re handled as a swimming fanbase to the best stage of competitors that exists in all of sports activities, the Olympic Video games. Within the years in between, nonetheless, we look ahead to seeing these high athletes compete on the World Championships — a contest that was first held again in 1973 in Belgrade.
With the newest Olympics now within the rearview mirror, we glance in direction of the upcoming 2025 Worlds, which shall be held in Singapore. Immediately, we share with you all some quick information in regards to the World Aquatics Championships.
The Worlds have been sometimes hosted biennially on odd years — till lately…
Beginning in 1998, the Worlds have been held each odd yr — a change from the earlier schedule that noticed the occasions hosted with numerous gaps of two, three, 4 and 5 years from 1973 to 1994. On account of COVID, nonetheless, there’s been a change within the timing of occasions: For the primary time ever, the Worlds shall be hosted in 4 consecutive years (Budapest 2022, Fukuoka 2023, Doha 2024, and Singapore 2025).
This is because of a domino impact brought on by the one-year delay of the Tokyo Olympic Video games, and the following one-year postponement of the World Championships in Fukuoka. After the 2025 Worlds in Singapore, World Aquatics will return to the standard odd-year cycle.
The winning-est nation on the Worlds has but to host.
As of 2024, the USA has racked up essentially the most medals and it’s not shut. With 302 gold medals and 738 complete medals (all sports activities), the U.S. leads second-place China (207 golds and 427 complete) by a substantial margin.
But the U.S. has but to host the competitors in its historical past. Actually, the Worlds have been held within the Americas a complete of thrice: in 1975 (Cali, Colombia), 1978 (Guayaquil, Ecuador), and 2005 (Montreal, Canada) — and none of those events noticed the U.S. play host to the competitors.
Probably the most dominant showings on the Worlds occurred in 1978, 2022, and 2024.
As of in the present day, the U.S. and China have put up three of essentially the most dominant performances at any given version of the World Championships. By way of gold medals throughout all sports activities, the U.S. took dwelling 23 golds in 1978; China repeated this feat most lately in 2024. By way of complete medals, the U.S. took dwelling 49 medals in 2022.
On the subject of pool swimming, the U.S. has had essentially the most dominant displaying. At each West Berlin 1978 and Melbourne 2007, the Individuals racked up 20 gold medals (36 complete). By way of most complete medals, an American stood on the rostrum a complete of 45 instances in Budapest 2022. The U.S. has additionally scored 38 complete medals (the second-highest complete ever) on two separate events — as soon as in Budapest 2017, and once more in Fukuoka 2023.
A handful of cities have hosted greater than as soon as.
Right here’s the record…
- Perth, Australia: 1991 and 1998
- Fukuoka, Japan: 2001 and 2023
- Barcelona, Spain: 2003 and 2013
- Rome, Italy: 1994 and 2009
- Budapest, Hungary: 2017 and 2022 (with 2027 upcoming)
With regard to multiple-time host nations, Spain has performed host a complete of thrice (together with Madrid 1986), and Australia has additionally hosted thrice (together with Melbourne 2007).
The silver medal has been awarded essentially the most instances on the Worlds.
Considering the ties throughout all occasions contested at every version of the Worlds, right here’s the ultimate tally: a complete of 1,234 golds, 1,243 silvers, and 1,231 bronzes (for a grand complete of three,708 medals) have been awarded. Intuitively, that does make sense: a tie for the silver medal ensures that no bronze medal is awarded, and the one method for a silver medal to not be awarded is that if two athletes tie for first in a lifeless warmth (which is extraordinarily uncommon).
A complete of six totally different disciplines are contested on the Worlds.
These six disciplines embody: swimming, inventive swimming, diving, open water swimming, water polo, and excessive diving. Right here’s a high-level overview of all of them:
- Swimming: launched in 1973, with the U.S. main the medal rely (254 gold, 609 complete)
- Inventive Swimming: launched in 1973, with Russia main the medal rely (60 gold, 66 complete)
- Diving: launched in 1973, with China main the medal rely (129 gold, 224 complete)
- Open Water: launched in 1991, with Germany main the medal rely (19 gold, 50 complete)
- Water Polo: launched in 1973, with the U.S. main with 8 golds & Hungary with 18 complete medals
- Excessive Diving: launched in 2013, with Australia main with 4 golds & the U.S. with 6 complete medals
What About Brief Course Worlds?
The Brief Course World Championships are sometimes held biennially, alternating years with LC Worlds. The primary such competitors was held in 1993 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Not like the World Aquatics Championships, swimming is the one contested self-discipline.
As of in the present day, the U.S. leads with 154 gold medals and 381 complete medals, with Australia in second place (91 gold, 271 complete).
I’m together with right here a pair extra quick information, only for enjoyable…
- Most Taking part Nations: Doha 2024 (199 international locations)
- Most Taking part Athletes: Gwangju 2019 (2,623 athletes)
- Most Occasions Contested: Gwangju 2019 (76 occasions)
- First Blended Occasion Contested: Perth 1998 (blended 5 km & 25 km open-water relays)
And at last, right here’s a recap on essentially the most adorned athletes to ever compete at Worlds.
- Michael Phelps (swimming): 33 complete medals, 26 gold
- Ryan Lochte (swimming): 27 complete medals, 18 gold
- Katie Ledecky (swimming): 26 complete medals, 21 gold
- Sarah Sjostrom (swimming): 25 complete medals, 14 gold
- Svetlana Romashina (inventive swimming): 21 complete medals, 21 gold
- Natalia Ishchenko (inventive swimming): 21 complete medals, 19 gold
- Li Shixin (diving): 4 complete medals, 2 gold
- Thomas Lurz (open water): 5 complete medals, 4 gold
- Rachel Fattal, Maddie Musselman & Maggie Steffens (water polo): 5 complete medals, 5 gold (a 3-way tie!)
- Gary Hunt (excessive diving): 5 complete medals, 2 gold
