Who Is the Greatest Female Swimmer in History? (Cast Your Vote Here!!)
Ask someone to name the greatest male swimmer in history and the answer will almost surely come quick. With 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold, Michael Phelps is the undisputed GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) in the sport. But when debating the finest female swimmer in history, the conversation is murky. More than a handful of names will be offered as an option.
Dawn Fraser – Photo Courtesy: Dawn Fraser Collection
Of course, American Katie Ledecky is a leading candidate, based on her dominance and longevity in the distance-freestyle events. Meanwhile, Australian legend Dawn Fraser will draw votes, as Fraser was the first athlete – man or woman – to win the same event at three consecutive Olympic Games. The Aussie accomplished the feat in the 100 freestyle.
Other candidates for Greatest Female Swimmer in History include Tracy Caulkins, who was once an American-record holder in every stroke, and distance legend Janet Evans, who posted world records that endured for nearly two decades. Then there’s Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi, who won three straight Olympic golds in the 200 backstroke (1988-96) and was years ahead of her time in the grueling event, while also excelling in the 100 backstroke and 400 individual medley. An argument can also be made for Aussie Shane Gould, the only woman to win five medals at a single Olympics.
Is there someone else you have in mind? Well, here’s your chance to be heard. Cast your vote below for the Greatest Female Swimmer in History!
Of course, if you judge “greatness” by an olympic medal count or WR count, then a vote is not needed. Just count and you will know the greatest. Swimmers like Evans, Ledecky and McIntosh are great not only because of their medal and record counts but because they are showing future women swimmers just what can be achieved. However, all their medal counts and record counts will, at some point , be broken in the future.
Shane Gould achived greatness by establishing a set of circumstances that, in my estimation, will never be broken. To hold world records in the 100m,200m,400m,800m and 1500m freestyle simultaneously is astounding. And she also held the 200 IM world record.
But, it’s not the number of her records that make her the greatest in my eyes, it is the abilty to be the best sprinter, middle distance and didtsnce swimmer all at once. We will not see this again.