Shoutout to The Sports Examiner editor Rich Perelman for this story idea.
The United States may not have topped the podium as much as Australia at the 2023 World Championships (seven gold medals vs. 13 for the Aussies), but their swimming depth in 2023 has been unmatched.
So far this year, there’s an American swimmer ranked top-10 in 33 of 34 Worlds events — all but the men’s 400-meter freestyle, where David Johnston is ranked 14th (3:45.75), according to Nuoto Mondiale’s rankings for men, women, and non-Olympic events. In total, the U.S. boasts 85 swimmers in the top 10 of Worlds events, 41 more than Australia. China is the third-deepest nation this year with 32 swimmers in the top 10.
Total Top 10 Performers in 2023 by Country
- United States, 85 (in 33 events)
- Australia, 44 (in 26)
- China, 32 (in 25)
- Canada, 17 (in 14)
- Russia, 16 (in 14)
- Japan, 16 (in 12)
- Tie: Italy / Germany, 14 (both in 9)
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- France, 13 (in 12)
- Great Britain, 13 (in 9)
Top 10 Men’s Performers in 2023 by Country
- United States, 33
- Tie: Australia / China, 14
- –
- Russia, 12
- Tie: France / Germany, 11
- –
- Japan, 10
- Great Britain, 9
- Tie: Hungary / Italy, 8
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Top 10 Women’s Performers in 2023 by Country
- United States, 52
- Australia, 30
- China, 18
- Canada, 14
- Italy and Japan, 6
- Netherlands, 5
- Tie: Great Britain / Russia / South Africa / Sweden, 4
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- –
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On the women’s side, the U.S. occupies five of the top 10 spots this year in both the 200 backstroke (Regan Smith, Rhyan White, Claire Curzan, Kennedy Noble, and Phoebe Bacon) and 100 butterfly (Torri Huske, Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, Regan Smith, and Claire Curzan).
A handful of swimmers are ranked top-10 in four different events: Sarah Sjostrom (1st in 50 free, 1st in 50 fly, 3rd in 100 free, 9th in 100 fly), Gretchen Walsh (3rd in 50 fly, 3rd in 100 fly, 9th in 50 free, 10th in 50 back), Mollie O’Callaghan (1st in 200 free, 2nd in 100 free, 4th in 100 back, 8th in 50 back), Zhang Yufei (1st in 100 fly, 2nd in 50 fly, 4th in 200 fly, 5th in 50 free), and Leon Marchand (1st in 400 IM, 1st in 200 fly, 2nd in 200 IM, 3rd in 200 breast).
Three swimmers are ranked top-10 in five different events: Kaylee McKeown (1st in 50 back, 1st in 100 back, 1st in 200 back, 3rd in 200 IM, 3rd in 400 IM), Kate Douglass (2nd in 200 IM, 4th in 100 fly, 4th in 200 breast, 6th in 100 free, 10th in 50 free) and Katie Ledecky (1st in 800 free, 1st in 1500 free, 3rd in 400 free, 5th in 200 free, 10th in 400 IM). Regan Smith was the lone swimmer ranked top-10 in six different events: 1st in 200 fly, 2nd in 50 back, 2nd in 100 back, 2nd in 200 back, 6th in 100 fly, 6th in 200 IM.
According to the latest list for 2023, Summer McIntosh is the most versatile swimmer of the year so far with top-10 rankings in seven different events. The 17-year-old Canadian phenom is 1st in the 200 IM (2:06.89), 1st in the 400 IM (4:25.87), 2nd in the 200 fly (2:04.06), 2nd in the 400 free (3:56.08), 3rd in the 200 free (1:53.65), 9th in the 800 free (8:20.19), and 10th in the 200 back (2:07.34).
What is up with the thin-skinned Aussie fans on this site this year? Please stop taking such vitriolic offense at any perceived slight. Please stop seeing any journalist mentioning American swimming prowess as some sort of national “bragging” trait unique to Americans. No one is trying to insult “your Dolphins”. You’re coming off an a very insecure bunch. Relax.
I agree some of the comments from Aussies on here are very childish. To be fair, there were a LOT of American fans who acted like crybabies when they lost the world champs medal table and tried to pretend America was the best. I think there’s just been a toxic environment created on here where each “side” always takes everything from the other “side” personally.
The way this headline was framed was obviously intended to be inflammatory: “and it isn’t close”. If SwimSwam had made a headline saying “Australia was the best swimming nation this year and it isn’t close” then I guarantee you’d be getting similar comments from Americans.
Which comments are vitriolic?
USA women have two events where they have 5 in the top 10. Australia has 4 women in the top 10 of the 50 free, their number 5 is ranked 11th. Also have 4 in the top 10 of 100 free, and their number 5 is ranked 12.
Well that may be so however relays make up the top FOUR…..thats all I am going to say…..don’t want to argue its pointless….they are all elite and remarkable
The australian women’s team are the ones to watch. The american women’s team have some catching up to do. Just look at the relays to see the depth the Dolphins have. Don’t even know why you have to write these types of articles. They are all elite and working hard for Paris. No point in trying to talk up the american team. Just make our Dolphins more determined than ever.
It would be interesting to see other pre-Olympic years Worlds top 10s to determine if this is a trend, or unique. I will say the US women are certainly remarkable
I would say the Australian women are the remarkable ones:
2023 World Championships: Australian women 8 gold to USA 4
2022 Short Course Worlds: Australian women 10 gold to USA 8
2021 Tokyo Olympics: Australian women 8 gold to USA 3
Roll out the, how many gold medals has Katie won
What’s wrong with men? Why aren’t they as versatile as the women?
Men’s sports are arguably more competitive at any given time than women’s sports. Greater competition pushes for more specialization, which reduces versatility. I think we are in the era of “Phelpses and Lochtes” of women’s swimming, while men’s swimming is past that era. But idk, I could be totally wrong.
Well I hear there’s this French Guy that Bob and a few other people feel good about.
That one french guy against 9 ladies… there is certainly a trend, but there are always gonna be exceptions.
In the IMs
How many silver and bronze medals does it take to equal a gold medal?
Ask the U.S.
USA tops the depth chart in SCY swimming too!