<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">World records in swimming are recognized by the International Swimming Federation (FINA), the international governing body for the sport of swimming. These records may be set in Olympic-sized (50 meters) or short-course (25 meters) pools. The committee recognizes world records in the following events for men and women, with the exception of mixed relays, where teams consist of two male and two female swimmers, in any order. <br></p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:275/183;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/e7e3341d-d4e0-4134-90b2-083b10b8cc65.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <span style="background-color:unset;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;"><span lang="ar">You can follow the news and</span></span> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbsial.com/ar/features/celebrity-ads"><span lang="ar">announcements of celebrities</span></a> <span style="background-color:unset;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;"><span lang="ar">and all their</span></span> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbsial.com/ar/features/exclusive-content"><span lang="ar">exclusive content</span></a> <span style="background-color:unset;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;"><span lang="ar">that you can only find through the Special application, which is</span></span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbsial.com/ar"><span lang="ar">a social networking application</span></a> <span style="background-color:unset;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;"><span lang="ar">with special and unique features, as it includes a podcast that provides many unique features, as you can launch</span></span> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbsial.com/ar/features/podcast-and-voice-recording"><span lang="ar">a podcast</span></a> <span style="background-color:unset;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;"><span lang="ar">with your friends or listen to others, and it also provides information about</span></span> the <span style="background-color:unset;color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);font-family:inherit;font-size:16px;"><span lang="ar">various</span></span> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sbsial.com/ar/features/celebrity-collectibles"><span lang="ar">possessions of celebrities</span></a> . </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1024/649;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/f433c6d2-6401-44a6-a8a8-0f0572d42aad.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The World Aquatics Championships, formerly known as the FINA World Championships, are world championships in six aquatics disciplines: swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, and water polo. These championships are organized by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the administration of international competitions in aquatics. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:640/301;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/98d18d21-7a8f-48e1-8fe2-2d8b5945e117.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> These championships are the largest and most important global sporting event, traditionally held every two years on odd-numbered years, with all six aquatics disciplines contested at each championship. Dr. Hal Henning, President of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) from 1972 to 1979 and its first American president, was instrumental in launching the first World Aquatics Championships and in maintaining the number of swimming events at the Olympic Games, giving nations with larger and more balanced teams an advantage. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:686/386;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/3bd8a4fc-2f6b-464b-ba9a-5e6dac870967.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> He stated that the championships were first held in 1973 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, where competitions were held in swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In 1991, open water swimming was added to the championships as a fifth discipline.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In 2013, high diving was added to the championships as a sixth discipline. In 2017, synchronized swimming was renamed artistic swimming. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:550/356;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/ad483a50-d7f7-46f6-a0cd-adcdc8771b9f.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Prior to the 9th World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in 2001, the championships were held at intervals of two to four years. From 2001 to 2019, the championships were held every two years on odd-numbered years. Due to interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, the withdrawal of host venues, and the withdrawal of hosting rights by the World Aquatics Federation, the championships will be held annually from 2022 to 2025, resuming every two years starting in 2025. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:779/439;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/426e4bf3-3d04-4667-8cfc-28af35fedb15.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The World Open Water Swimming Championships (also known as the World Open Water Championships) are part of the World Aquatics Championships. Additional standalone editions of the Open Water Championships were held in even-numbered years from 2000 to 2010. The World Masters Championships (also known as the World Masters Championships) are open to athletes aged 25 and over (30 and over in water polo) in all aquatics disciplines except high diving and have been held as part of the World Aquatics Championships since 2015. Prior to this, the Masters Championships were held separately every two years in even-numbered years. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/1066;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/72efadb8-dc85-44aa-b2e1-f09c4659e367.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Athletes from all 208 current member world sports federations are eligible to participate in the Championship, along with athletes considered neutral independent athletes under the Federation's rules, and athletes from the Refugee Sports World Team. The 2019 Championships set a record for the largest number of participating athletes (2,623). </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:550/356;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/d93bd249-f494-4224-adc7-df81577f3796.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The last 2024 World Championships featured athletes from 199 countries: 197 sports federations, one suspended sports federation, and one refugee sports team. The World Swimmer of the Year award is given by the US-based World Swimming organization. There are seven categories: World Swimmer of the Year, USA Swimmer of the Year, European Swimmer of the Year, Pacific Swimmer of the Year, World Para Swimmer of the Year, African Swimmer of the Year, and Open Water Swimmer of the Year. Each category features a male and female award. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:789/539;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/a7ebad2e-8571-4b32-a355-3d25d030dd8c.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The award was established in 1964, when Swimming World magazine named Dawn Schullander Swimmer of the Year. Two years later, a separate category for women was added, and the awards continued in this format until 1980.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The winners were mostly Americans until the advent of women's swimming in East Germany in the 1970s, and 1980 saw the creation of subcategories for American and European swimmers.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> After the end of the Cold War, Germany declined following the end of its state-sponsored doping program in the East, while the Australian swimming team enjoyed a resurgence. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:800/533;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/cb519994-ed29-49c4-9a56-7eb0e4e6db7f.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In December 2013, World Swimming announced its decision to strip East Germans who were drug users of all World and European Swimmer of the Year awards.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> In 1994, Australian swimmers won the World Swimmer of the Year award for the first time, and in 1995, a subcategory was created for swimmers from the Pacific region. A subcategory for swimmers with a disability was introduced in 2003, and the following year, an African award was launched after South Africa became the first country from the continent to win an Olympic relay. In 2005, open water swimming was added to the Olympic program, along with an additional category. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/1200;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/a73b8ab4-9a32-4b47-9e5e-d2e9d66e6019.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> It is noteworthy that American swimmers have won the title 51 times, followed by Australia (13 times) and East Germany (11 times).This ratio roughly corresponds to the number of gold medals won by the respective countries at the Olympic Games. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/948;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/3e54cf8b-e0a9-4515-98c5-4a4a472642c8.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> East Germany enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s, when it dominated women's events, aided by systematic state-sponsored doping. American swimmer Michael Phelps won the world title eight times, followed by American swimmer Katie Ledecky and Australian Ian Thorpe, who each won four titles. Regionally, German, Hungarian, and Dutch swimmers enjoyed the greatest success in Europe, while Australians won more than three-quarters of the Pacific Ocean's medals. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/880;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/c1c2a0f1-c5a3-459c-903d-f9bef5993c2e.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Sun Yong is the 2013 World Swimmer of the Year and has been named Pacific Swimmer of the Year five times. He is the only Chinese swimmer to have won this year's title.<br> The award was established in 1964, when Swimming World magazine named Dawn Schullander World Swimmer of the Year. A year later, a separate category for women was added. From 1973 to 1989, the rise of East German women saw them win the majority of the awards. After the end of the Cold War, Germany declined following the end of the East's state-sponsored doping program, while the Australian swimming team enjoyed a resurgence in the late 1990s, winning nine awards since 1997, the most for any nation in that period. World Swimming has since stripped the East Germans of their titles. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1024/640;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/b15fbf80-0ebf-4ed3-b075-37f3f7f9837a.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> American swimmers have won the title 51 times, followed by Australia (13) and East Germany (11). This ratio roughly corresponds to the number of gold medals won by the respective countries at the Olympic Games. East Germany was particularly successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when it dominated women's events, aided by systematic, state-sponsored doping. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:644/386;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/bba69290-d744-4dab-94e8-e1835ffa4fd2.jpeg" alt="Swimming pools"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> With his 2016 win, Michael Phelps (USA) holds the overall record with eight titles. He won in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2016. Katie Ledecky (USA) is the second-most-received female athlete, having won in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Phelps and Ledecky are the only swimmers to have won the award four consecutive times. Ian Thorpe (AUS) has been honored four times, in 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2002. </p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1600/898;" src="https://cdn.sbisiali.com/news/images/e80442f5-2191-4ba2-8771-11643b49d502.jpeg" alt="Swimming Championships"></figure><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Ledecky is the only swimmer to win the award more than three times. Four female swimmers have won three awards: Debbie Meyer (USA) in 1967, 1968, and 1969; Kristyna Egerszegi (Hungary) in 1991, 1992, and 1995; Janet Evans (USA) in 1987, 1989, and 1990; and Christine Otto (East Germany) in 1984, 1986, and 1988. Franziska van Almsick is the youngest female recipient of the award, having turned 15 on April 5 the year of her first award. Thorpe is the youngest male recipient, having turned 16 on October 13 the year of his first award.</p>