List of famous male swimmers, listed by their level of prominence with photos when available. This greatest male swimmers list contains the most prominent and top males known for being swimmers. There are thousand of males working as swimmers in the world, but this list highlights only the most notable ones. Historic swimmers have worked hard to become the best that they can be, so if you're a male aspiring to be a swimmer then the people below should give you inspiration.
With people ranging from Nelson Mora to Christophe Kalfayan, this is a great starting point for a list of your favorites.
While this isn't a list of all male swimmers, it does answer the questions "Who are the most famous male swimmers?" and "Who are the best male swimmers?"Harry Glancy
Harrison Smith Glancy (September 17, 1904 โ September 22, 2002) was an American competition swimmer who represented the United States at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France and the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 1924, he won a gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the men's 4ร200-meter freestyle relay, together with teammates Ralph Breyer, Wally O'Connor and Johnny Weissmuller. Glancy and his American teammates set new world records in both the semifinals (9:59.4) and final (9:53.4).Glancy was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Pioneer Swimmer" in 1990.Christopher Bowie
Christopher Robert Bowie (born November 21, 1966) is a former freestyle swimmer, who competed for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There he finished in 15th position in the men's 1500-metre freestyle, and in ninth place with the men's 4x200-metre freestyle relay team.Ryan Mitchell
Ryan Scott Mitchell (born 24 April 1977) is an Australian breaststroke swimmer of the 1990s, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as part of the 4ร100-metre medley relay team. Ryan began his swimming career in Port Augusta, where the Ryan Mitchell municipal swimming center is named after him today.Luiz Lima
Luiz Eduardo Carneiro da Silva de Souza Lima (born December 10, 1977) is a long-distance freestyle swimmer from Brazil, who competed at two consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1996. He won the gold medal in the 400-metre freestyle at the 1997 Universiade. In 1995, Luiz Lima surpassed the Djan Madruga's record in the 1500-metre freestyle, 1976. After this, broke the record again. His Brazilian record in the 1500-metre freestyle at Olympic pool lasted 11 years, between 1998 and 2009.In short course, Lima was the South American record holder in the 1500-metre freestyle with a time of 15:00.32 in 1997, beating the record again in 1998 with 14:57.87, and in 1999 with 14:56.82 and then 14m55s44. He is also the former short-course South American record holder of the 800-metre freestyle, with a time of 7:50.22, obtained in 1998.At 16 years old, Lima went to the 1994 World Aquatics Championships, in Rome, where he finished 12th in the 1500-metre freestyle, and 21st in the 400-metre freestyle.Lima participated in the 1995 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m). He finished 4th in the 1500-metre freestyle, with a time of 15:08.08. He also swam the 400-metre freestyle.In 1995 Pan American Games, Luiz Lima won the silver medal in the 400-metre and the 1500-metre freestyle.Lima was at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he finished 10th in the 4ร200-metre freestyle, 11th in the 1500-metre freestyle, and 18th in the 400-metre freestyle.Lima participated in the 1997 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), where he finished 6th in the 1500-metre freestyle and 8th in the 400-metre freestyle. At the 1998 World Aquatics Championships, in Perth, Lima went to the 1500-metre freestyle final, finishing in 6th place. He also swam the 400-metre freestyle, where he finished 10th.At the 1999 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m), in Hong Kong, Lima was a finalist in the 1500-metre freestyle, finishing 6th, and in the 400-metre freestyle, finishing 8th.In 1999 Pan American Games, Luiz Lima won the gold medal in the 400-metre freestyle, and silver in the 1500-metre freestyle. In the 400-metre freestyle, broke the South American record with a time of 3:52.25.He participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he finished 13th in the 4ร200-metre freestyle, 18th in the 1500-metre freestyle, and 17th in 400-metre freestyle.Luiz Lima also participated in 2003 Pan American Games, staying in 4th place in the 1500-metre freestyle.At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships, Luiz Lima finished 23rd in the 1500-metre freestyle and 17th in the 800-metre freestyle.At the 2007 World Aquatics Championships, participated in the 5 km Marathon Swimming, finishing in 25th position, with a time of 58:30.0.On December 14, 2008, accepted the challenge to swim 35 km between Rio de Janeiro's beaches of Leme and Pontal, at Recreio dos Bandeirantes (contest inspired by the famous music of Brazilian singer Tim Maia, "From Leme to Pontal"). In which successfully met.At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships, Lima participated in the 5 km Marathon Swimming where he finished in 19th place with a mark of 57:11.1.Hiroshi Yoneyama
Hiroshi Yoneyama (็ฑณๅฑฑ ๅผ, Yoneyama Hiroshi, 1908 in Ibaraki โ January 24, 1988) was a Japanese swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. A graduate of Waseda University, Yoneyama was a member of the Japanese team which won the silver medal for the 4 ร 200 meter freestyle relay event at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. He also placed fifth in the semifinal of the 400 meter freestyle event, and did not advance.- Benno Gerrit Valentijn Kuipers (born March 6, 1974 in Ede, Gelderland) is a former breaststroke swimmer from the Netherlands. Kuipers competed for his native country in two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. After having missed qualification for the European LC Championships 2002 in Berlin, he retired from the international scene. He then became an assistant coach of Fedor Hes in Amsterdam. Kuipers won a total of eighteen Dutch titles during his career, which was plagued by injury. During his swimming career, Kuipers became 18 times Dutch Champion.
Eduardo Fischer
Eduardo Aquiles Fischer (born March 25, 1980 in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil) is an Olympic breaststroke swimmer from Brazil. He swam for Brazil at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.Piet Ooms
Pieter ("Piet") Lodewijk Ooms (11 December 1884, Amsterdam โ 14 February 1961, Amsterdam) was a Dutch freestyle swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He participated in the 1500 metre freestyle competition, but was eliminated in the first round. Also he was part of the Dutch water polo team, which finished fourth in the 1908 tournament.Casey Barrett
Casey Barrett (born February 16, 1975) is a Canadian former competitive swimmer, Olympic athlete, writer, and the co-founder and co-CEO of Imagine Swimming, Inc, New York City's largest learn-to-swim program. He is the author of the Duck Darley crime series, with the first Duck Darley novel, UNDER WATER, published in fall 2017.Eduard Meijer
Eduard Meijer (25 February 1878, Amsterdam โ 20 March 1929, Amsterdam) was a Dutch freestyle swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics and 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1900 he competed in the 4000 metre freestyle competition and finished fifth. Eight years later he participated in the 1500 metre freestyle competition, but he was eliminated in the first round. He was also part of the Dutch water polo team, which finished fourth in the 1908 tournament. He is the older brother of Karel Meijer.Heath Ramsay
Heath Terrence Ramsay (born 3 April 1981) is a former butterfly swimmer who competed for Australia at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. There he finished in eleventh position in the 200-metre butterfly, clocking 1:57.90 minutes in the B-Final. An accomplished pianist, Heath wrote the Australian Dolphins team song in the lead up to the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The song, โDance Dolphin Danceโ has become a mainstay in the Dolphins team preparations at every major championship since. Retiring from swimming in 2003, Heath founded a successful learn to swim centre in Ipswich and is the patron of the Bundamba Bowls Club. An avid Wests Tigers fan, in 2006 Heath walked the Kokoda track as part of a Tigers supporters group celebrating their 2005 Premiership win. He opted to make the trek in bare feet.Vadim Yaroshchuk
Vadim Yaroshchuk (Russian: ะะฐะดะธะผ ะฏัะพััะบ) (born April 2, 1966) is a former butterfly and medley swimmer from the Soviet Union, who won two bronze medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He did so as a member of the 4ร100 medley relay, and in the 200 m individual medley.Rony Bakale
Emile-Rony Bakale (born 6 October 1987 in Timiศoara) is a Romanian-born Republic of the Congo swimmer specializing in freestyle. He swam for the Congo at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He was the Congo's flagbearer in 2004. He also swam at almost all the World Swimming Championships between 2000 and 2015 and the All-Africa Games between 1999 and 2015. Bakale is an engineer in Robotics. His elder sister Monika also swam for the Congo.Frits Meuring
Friedrich Wilhelm "Frits" Meuring (June 6, 1882 in Amsterdam โ May 28, 1973 in Haarlem) was a Dutch freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He participated in the 400 metre freestyle competition, but he was eliminated in the first round.Malcolm Allen
Malcolm James Allen (born 29 May 1973) is a former freestyle swimmer who competed for Australia at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He placed 13th in the 400-metre freestyle, and ended up fourth with the men's 4x200-metre freestyle relay team. A year earlier, at the 1995 FINA Short Course World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, he won the bronze medal in the 400m Freestyle. On 23 June 2000, Allen was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his swimming achievements.- Paul Kent (born 29 March 1972 in Auckland) is a former breaststroke swimmer from New Zealand, who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.
Rafael Mosca
Rafael Motta Bacรชllo Mรณsca (born May 13, 1982 in Rio de Janeiro) is a freestyle swimmer from Brazil.Trying to prevent some respiratory problem, Mรณsca began to practice swimming. His mother enrolled him in a swim school at two years of age. At 11, a disease in kidney removed him from swimming pools, for a year and a half. Recovered, returned to swim at Flamengo. The first good results of Rafael appeared, and he began to consider the possibility of a career as a professional athlete.At 19 years old, he broke the 10-year hegemony of Gustavo Borges in the 200-metre freestyle, at the 2002 Jose Finkel Trophy (Brazilian Short Course Championship). Gustavo won the gold medal since 1992.Mรณsca swam at the 2002 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, where he finished 4th in the 4ร100-metre freestyle, 5th in the 4ร200-metre freestyle, and 14th in the 200-metre freestyle.At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships, in Barcelona, Mรณsca finished 33rd in the 200-metre freestyle and 9th in the 4ร200-metre freestyle.He won the silver medal with the men's relay team in the 4ร200-metre freestyle at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His winning teammates were Carlos Jayme, Gustavo Borges, and Rodrigo Castro. He also finished 7th in the 200-metre freestyle.Mรณsca also represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. In which he achieved 9th place also with the men's relay team in the 4ร200-metre freestyle, now with Bruno Bonfim, Carlos Jayme and Rodrigo Castro. At this race, he broke the South American record, with a time of 7:22.70.At the 2004 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Indianapolis, Mรณsca won the bronze medal in the 4ร200-metre freestyle, along with Rodrigo Castro, Thiago Pereira and Lucas Salatta, beating the South American record, with a time of 7:06.64. He also finished 19th in the 200-metre freestyle.- Tsutomu ลyokota (ๅคงๆจช็ฐ ๅ, ลyokota Tsutomu, April 20, 1913 โ 1970) was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. While a student at Meiji University, he set national records over 200 m (2:14.6) and 400 m (4:50.4). He was selected for the 1932 Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 400 m event, despite suffering a severe bout of gastroenteritis before the Games.
Michael Mason
Michael T. Mason (born March 18, 1974) is a former competition breaststroke swimmer, who was born in the United States, but represented Canada in international competition. He competed for Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and finished in 23rd position in the men's 200-metre breaststroke.- Walter Nicholas ("Nick") Henry Tongue (born 8 April 1973 in Auckland) is a former freestyle swimmer from New Zealand, who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States for his native country.
Aristeidis Grigoriadis
Aristeidis ("Aris") Grigoriadis (Greek: ฮฯฮทฯ ฮฯฮทฮณฮฟฯฮนฮฌฮดฮทฯ) (born 6 December 1985) is a Greek swimmer from Thessaloniki.Bert Bergsma
Bert Bergsma (born August 12, 1955 in Apeldoorn, Gelderland) is a former freestyle swimmer from the Netherlands, who competed for his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. There he was eliminated as a member (second swimmer) of the Dutch relay teams, in the 4 ร 100 m freestyle and the 4 ร 200 m freestyle.Robert Braknis
Robert Braknis (born January 8, 1973) is a Canadian former competition swimmer, who competed for his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics. There he finished in 16th position in the 100-metre backstroke, and in twelfth place with the men's relay team in the 4x100-medley. Braknis set the Canadian and Commonwealth record in the 50-metre backstroke in 1994. Braknis is a graduate of Florida State University where he was a 7-time All-American and the Atlantic Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year in 1995. He was also a torch-bearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics torch relay. He is currently employed as a police officer for the Peel Regional Police in Brampton, Ontario.Giacomo Vassanelli
Giacomo Vassanelli (born May 5, 1983 in Verona) is a freestyle swimmer from Italy, who won the gold medal in the men's 4ร100 metres freestyle event at the 2004 European Championships. He represented his native country a couple of months later at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.William Mahony
William Victor Mahony (born September 16, 1949) is a former breaststroke swimmer who represented Canada in multiple international championships from 1966 to 1974, including two Summer Olympics, the Pan American Games, and two Commonwealth Games.Mahony began his international career at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica, with a bronze medal in the 220-yard breaststroke. In Mexico City for the 1968 Summer Olympics, he competed in the semifinals of the 100-metre breaststroke, the preliminary heats of the 200-metre breaststroke, and the finals of the men's 4ร100-metre medley relay.He attended the University of Michigan, where he swam for the Michigan Wolverines swimming and diving team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Big Ten Conference competition from 1969 to 1971. He received All-American honours during each of his three varsity seasons as a college swimmer in the States. At the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, he won three gold medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke, and the 4ร100-metre medley relay. In Cali, Colombia for the 1971 Pan American Games, Mahony earned a silver medal as a member of Canada's 4ร100-metre medley relay team. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, he won a bronze medal in the men's 4ร100-metre medley relay, together with Canadian teammates Erik Fish, Bruce Robertson and Robert Kasting. After taking a year off, in his final international event at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, he won another gold medal swimming his lifetime fastest Breastroke leg for the Canadian team in the 4ร100-metre medley relay, alongside Brian Phillips, Bruce Robertson and Steve Pickell. From 1977 to 1987 he developed the Adapted Aquatics program at Variety's Treatment Centre in Surrey, British Columbia, and helped to form the British Columbia Branch of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association. Later, while coaching parapalegic and blind swimmers, he was selected to coach the Canadian swimmers at the 1980 Olympics for the Disabled in the Netherlands. He was awarded Athlete of the Year in New Westminster, and inducted into the BC Swimming Hall of Fame, Canadian Swimming Hall of Fame, and BC Sports Hall of Fame.Shigeo Sugiura
Shigeo Sugiura (ๆๆตฆ ้้, Sugiura Shigeo, 10 May 1917 โ 10 April 1988) was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. At the 1936 Olympics he won a gold medal in the 4 ร 200 m freestyle relay, setting a new world record.Emanuele Idini
Emanuele Idini (born 18 December 1970 in Rome) is a retired freestyle swimmer from Italy, who represented his native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics: 1992 and 1996.He won the silver medal in the men's 4ร200 m freestyle at the 1991 European Aquatics Championships, alongside Roberto Gleria, Stefano Battistelli, and Giorgio Lamberti. Four years later in Vienna, Austria he was a member of the team that claimed the bronze medal in the same event, partnering Massimiliano Rosolino, Emanuele Merisi, and Piermaria Siciliano.Ivan Mladina
Ivan Mladina (born July 20, 1980 in Split) is a freestyle swimmer from Croatia, who made his Olympic debut for his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. There he was eliminated in the qualifying heats of the Men's 100 m Butterfly, as well as in the 4 ร 100 m Freestyle Relay. Four years later, when Athens, Greece hosted the Summer Olympics, Malina was once again a member of the Croatian swimming team, alongside Duje Draganja, Mario Delaฤ and Igor ฤerenลกek, that did not pass the heats in the 4 ร 100 m Freestyle Relay.Xavier Marchand
Xavier Marchand (born 4 August 1973 in Deauville) is a former medley swimmer from France, who competed at two consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. He won his first international medal (silver) in 1997, at the 1997 European Aquatics Championships in the 200 m individual medley behind the Netherlands' Marcel Wouda.Andy Coan
Andrew B. Coan (March 4, 1958 โ March 20, 2017) was an American freestyle swimmer.
