The Most Top-10 Performances: Summer McIntosh and Sarah Sjostrom Lead the Way
Who owns the most top-10 performances in women’s swimming history? It’s a question that initially suggested Katie Ledecky as an answer, given her long-term dominance in the distance-freestyle events. While Ledecky owns 19 top-10 marks between the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, that total trails Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and Canadian Summer McIntosh, who each hold 21 top-10 performances.
Sjostrom’s tally spans four events, the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly. Of her 21 top-10 efforts, 18 were recorded between the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly. Joining Sjostrom in the top-10 in the 50 free is Germany’s Britta Steffen, while American star Gretchen Walsh is the other swimmer found in the top-10 of the 50 fly. Sjostrom’s other top-10 efforts come from the 100 freestyle (two) and the 100 butterfly (one).
On the opposite end of the sprint spectrum, McIntosh owns her 21 top-10 marks in events from 200 meters and up. McIntosh’s top count is seven top-10 performances in the 400 individual medley, with the 200 butterfly next at five entries. She also owns four top-10 swims in the 400 freestyle, three in the 200 IM and two in the 800 freestyle.
Below is a breakdown of the top-10 historical performances by Sjostrom and McIntosh:
Sarah Sjostrom’s Top-10 Performances
50 Freestyle (Nine)
23.61 – World Aquatics Championships – 2023
23.62 – World Aquatics Championships – 2023
23.66 – Olympic Games – 2024
23.67 – World Aquatics Championships – 2017
23.69 – World Aquatics Championships – 2017
23.69 – World Aquatics Championships – 2024
23.71 – Olympic Games – 2024
23.74 – European Championships – 2018
23.75 – Sette Colli – 2024
100 Freestyle (Two)
51.71 – World Aquatics Championships – 2017
52.08 – Mare Nostroum – 2017
50 Butterfly (Nine)
24.43 – Swedish National Championships – 2014
24.60 – World Aquatics Championships – 2017
24.63 – World Aquatics Championships – 2024
24.69 – Eindhoven Swim Cup – 2015
24.73 – Sette Colli – 2024
24.74 – World Aquatics Championships – 2023
24.76 – Mare Nostroum – 2017
24.77 – World Aquatics Championships – 2023
24.79 – World Aquatics Championships – 2019
100 Butterfly (One)
55.48 – Olympic Games – 2016
Summer McIntosh’s Top-10 Performances
400 Freestyle (Four)
3:54.18 – Canadian Trials – 2025
3:55.37 – Toyota American Championships – 2025
3:56.08 – Bell Canadian Trials – 2023
3:56.26 – World Aquatics Championships – 2025
800 Freestyle (Two)
8:05.07 – Canadian Trials – 2025
8:07.29 – World Aquatics Championships – 2025
200 Butterfly (Five)
2:01.99 – World Aquatics Championships – 2025
2:02.26 – Canadian Trials – 2025
2:02.62 – U.S. Open – 2025
2:03.03 – Olympic Games – 2024
2:04.00 – Pro Swim Series – 2025
200 Individual Medley (Three)
2:05.70 – Canadian Trials – 2025
2:06.56 – Olympic Games – 2024
2:06.69 – World Aquatics Championships – 2025
400 Individual Medley (Seven)
4:23.65 – Canadian Trials – 2025
4:24.38 – Bell Canadian Trials – 2024
4:25.78 – World Aquatics Championships – 2025
4:25.87 – Bell Canadian Trials – 2023
4:26.98 – Pro Swim Series – 2025
4:27.11 – World Aquatics Championships – 2023
4:27.71 – Olympic Games – 2024