Some of the greatest American swimmers in Olympic history have won multiple Olympic medals across several different events. Others swam at the Olympic level for such a long period of time that it’s difficult not to include them on the list. And some did both, swimming for decades and winning huge numbers of Olympic medals.
Few arguments can be made against Michael Phelps as the greatest American swimmer in history. Phelps is the most decorated Olympian and swimmer ever, and he’s accomplished his medal haul across an array of events and strokes, ranging from the 100-meter freestyle in relays to the 400-meter individual medley. Phelps dominated and held world records in many events for more than a decade, and his longevity in the sport just adds to his resumé.
MARK SPITZ
Until Michael Phelps came along, Mark Spitz was the undisputed king of the pool. Spitz did the unthinkable when he won seven gold medals and set seven world records at the 1972 Olympic Games. In addition, the freestyle and butterfly swimmer also won two gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games. In total, Spitz won nine golds, one silver and a bronze during his Olympic swimming career.
RYAN LOCHTE
Ryan Lochte has the unfortunate distinction of swimming during the same era as some of the most dominant swimmers in the world — Phelps in the individual medley events, and Aaron Peirsol in the backstroke events. Lochte hasn’t racked up the same number of medals as some of the other swimmers on this list, but he’s been the second-best swimmer in the world for more than eight years. Second-best to Phelps isn’t too bad.
Even if she weren’t one of the most decorated female American swimmers in history, the sheer longevity of Dara Torres’ Olympic career would land her on the list of greatest American swimmers. Torres won 12 Olympic medals during a career that spanned five Olympic Games and 24 years. The sprint-freestyle and butterfly swimmer competed in her final Olympic Games at 41 years old.
MATT BIONDI
During his Olympic career, Matt Biondi won eight gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal. Seven of those medals came at the 1988 Olympic Games, where Biondi individually swam sprint freestyle and butterfly events. He also swam three Olympic relays that year.
CHARLES DANIELS
Charles Daniels was the first great swimmer in American history. As a teenager in 1904, Daniels won three gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal. He added another gold at the 1906 Intercalated Games, and added a gold and a bronze at the 1908 Olympic Games in London. In total, Daniels amassed 10 Olympic medals in freestyle sprint and middle-distance events.
NATALIE COUGHLIN
Like Torres, Natalie Coughlin also has claimed 12 Olympic medals during her swimming career, which ties her for the most decorated female American swimmer in history. The 29-year-old from California has competed in three Olympic Games and won medals in the 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter individual medley and several relays.
JENNY THOMPSON
Jenny Thompson is the third American woman on the list who has won 12 Olympic medals. Eight of those medals were gold, and all but two came in relay events. Thompson’s two individual medals are silver and bronze and came in the 100 freestyle at the 1992 and 2000 Olympic Games. Thompson competed in each Olympic Games from 1992-2004.
Shirley Babashoff swam in two Olympic Games, and during that time, the teenager won eight Olympic medals in events ranging from the 100 freestyle to the 800-meter freestyle. Babashoff only won two gold medals, both in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, but the range of distances she covered at such a young age makes Babashoff one of the greatest. Each of her remaining six medals were silver.
DEBBIE MEYER
At the 1968 Olympic Games, teenager Debbie Meyer became the first swimmer to earn three individual gold medals at a single Olympic Games. She did so in the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyle events. Meyer, who already owned the world records, set three Olympic records in the process. She swam to dominance in the freestyle events while dealing with asthma.
JANET EVANS
During her career, Janet Evans won four gold medals and one silver medal. She won three golds in her first Olympic appearance as a 17-year-old at the 1988 Olympic Games where she won gold in the 400 and 800 freestyles and 400-meter individual medley. In 1992, Evans added gold in the 800 freestyle and silver in the 400 meter freestyle. During her career, Evans set world records that would stand for nearly two decades.
Sandra Johnson was a competitive swimmer for more than 15 years before she began coaching. She is a longtime Olympic fan, and while working for the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo., she had the opportunity to immerse herself in the Olympic Movement. Follow her on Twitter: @SandraJohnson46.
