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Who Are The Oldest Olympic Swimmers in History?

Comments: 25
Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 25

September 11th, 2023 News

NBC’s Olympic guru Nick Zaccardi fired off a run of Tweets this week about the potential ‘oldest Olympians’ in topical sports.

For example, in basketball, which just finished its World Cup (Germany went undefeated to win gold), Zaccardi pointed out that if Lebron James (who will be 39) and Kevin Durant (who will be 35) were to play for Team USA at next year’s Olympics, they’d be the oldest U.S. Olympic men’s basketball players in history, breaking Larry Bird’s record.

Also this weekend, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic won the US Open men’s singles title to break the all-time record for Grand Slam tennis titles in the Open Era. His 24th title is the most all-time by a man and ties Australian Margaret Court for the most ever by either gender.

Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic said afterward that he plans to play in the Olympics in 2028, which at 41 would make him the oldest Olympic singles player ever. The current record is 37 years, 252 days.

So I took a dive into Olympedia, a fountain of information about the Olympics and its athletes, to see who the oldest Olympic swimmers in history were.

The well-known ‘oldest’ in Olympic swimming is American Dara Torres, who in 2008 became the oldest Olympic medalist in swimming history three times (via silver medals in the 400 free relay, 400 medley relay, and 50 free).

The last of those medals were won at 41 years, 124 days, which also makes her the 3rd-oldest Olympic competitor.

But that doesn’t make her even close to the oldest. As with many of the quirks of Olympic superlatives, the early days of the Games had some participants and results that would be considered non-traditional at today’s standards, as the event was not immediately of the rigorous structure it is today.

At the 1900 Games in Paris, the 2nd edition of the Games, ET Jones competed in the 4000 metres freestyle at 50 years, 104 days old. His age was not known to modern Olympic history for a long time, but historian Hilary Evans found it in an obituary from the Yorkshire Evening Post in March 1904.

The obituary mentioned Jones as “one of the old school of professional swimmers,” though didn’t mention his cause of death (it was consumption, aka tuberculosis). Demonstrating the different approach to the Olympics at the time: while the obituary mentioned a number of swimming accomplishments, his Olympic participation was not among them.

Next behind Jones was Dutchman Bartholomeus Roodenburch, who competed at the 1908 Olympic Games at 42 years, 18 days of age.

Then came Torres, the oldest woman, and Brit William Henry, who competed at 41 years of age in 1900 in the same race as Jones.

Both swimmers ended their participation with results of DNF (Jones in the semis, Roodenburch in the finals), and gold was won by 28-year-old John Jarvis.

Among more modern competitors, the oldest behind Torres at the subsequent three Olympic Games were Sweden’s Lars Frolander in 2012 (38 years, 69 days), Sweden’s Therese Alshammar in 2016 (38 years, 353 days), and Canada’s Brent Hayden in 2021 (37 years, 284 days).

While entries are far-from-over for the Paris Olympics, the likely oldest competitor at the moment is Marc Dansou of Benin. He competed at the Tokyo Olympics at 37 years, 271 days of age, and has not yet announced his retirement – swimming for his country at this year’s World Championships. Benin also entered a 37-year-old, Jules Bessan, at the 2016 Olympics.

Below is a list of the top 50 oldest Olympic swimmers in history (limited to one entry per athlete).

Note: this list relates only to the swimming discipline and does not include open water swimmers.

50 Oldest Men

Rank Athlete Born Country Dates Placement Age
1 E. T. Jones 7 May 1850 GBR 15 – 19 August 1900 AC h3 r1/2 50 years 104 days
2 Bartholomeus Roodenburch 29 June 1866 NED 16 – 17 July 1908 2 h3 r1/3 42 years 18 days
3 William Henry 28 June 1859 GBR 15 – 19 August 1900 AC r2/2 41 years 52 days
4 Władysław Kuncewicz 23 October 1888 POL 10 – 11 August 1928 5 h7 r1/3 39 years 293 days
5 Serkan Atasay 11 March 1970 TUR 13 – 15 August 2008 42 38 years 157 days
6 Mark Foster 12 May 1970 GBR 14 – 16 August 2008 23 38 years 96 days
7 Lars Frölander 26 May 1974 SWE 2 – 3 August 2012 20 38 years 69 days
8 William Robinson 23 June 1870 GBR 15 – 18 July 1908 2 38 years 25 days
9 Brent Hayden 21 October 1983 CAN 30 July – 1 August 2021 9 37 years 284 days
10 Marc Dansou 3 November 1983 BEN 30 July – 1 August 2021 53 37 years 271 days
11 Jules Bessan 14 April 1979 BEN 11 – 12 August 2016 77 37 years 120 days
12 Mamadou Ouedraogo 30 May 1967 BUR 19 – 20 August 2004 81 37 years 82 days
13 Zeno von Singalewicz 14 August 1875 AUT 8 – 12 July 1912 AC h1 r2/3 36 years 333 days
14 Gilles Coudray 11 November 1955 CGO 30 July 1992 69 36 years 262 days
15 Jason Lezak 12 November 1975 USA 29 July 2012 2 36 years 260 days
16 Leonid Meshkov 14 January 1916 URS 28 – 29 July 1952 10 36 years 197 days
17 Edgar Adams 7 April 1868 USA 7 September 1904 4 36 years 153 days
18 John Jarvis 24 February 1872 GBR 21 – 25 July 1908 AC h2 r2/3 36 years 152 days
19 Felipe Lima 5 April 1985 BRA 30 July – 1 August 2021 AC 36 years 118 days
20 István Szívós, Sr. 20 August 1920 HUN 30 November – 6 December 1956 16 36 years 108 days
21 Johannes Bloemen 26 May 1864 NED 11 – 12 August 1900 4 36 years 78 days
22 Derya Büyükuncu 2 July 1976 TUR 1 – 2 August 2012 33 36 years 31 days
23 Paweł Korzeniowski 9 July 1985 POL 29 – 31 July 2021 22 36 years 22 days
24 Paul Vasseur 10 October 1884 FRA 25 – 29 August 1920 4 h1 r1/2 35 years 324 days
25 László Cseh, Jr. 3 December 1985 HUN 28 – 30 July 2021 7 35 years 239 days
26 Henry Taylor 17 March 1885 GBR 25 – 29 August 1920 3 35 years 165 days
27 Pavlo Khnykin 5 April 1969 UKR 15 August 2004 10 35 years 132 days
28 Fréd Bousquet 8 April 1981 FRA 11 – 12 August 2016 26 35 years 126 days
29 Oscar Grégoire 26 March 1877 BEL 9 – 13 July 1912 AC h3 r1/3 35 years 109 days
30 Anthony Ervin 26 May 1981 USA 11 – 12 August 2016 1 35 years 78 days
31 Vitaly Vasilyev 5 June 1973 KGZ 14 – 16 August 2008 56 35 years 72 days
32 George Webster 31 July 1885 GBR 22 – 23 August 1920 4 h2 r1/2 35 years 23 days
33 Jack Hatfield 15 August 1893 GBR 7 – 9 August 1928 2 h6 r1/3 34 years 360 days
34 David Bratton October 1869 USA 7 September 1904 4 34 years 312 days
35 Ben Hockin 27 September 1986 PAR 29 – 31 July 2021 51 34 years 307 days
36 Rogério Romero 22 November 1969 BRA 18 – 19 August 2004 15 34 years 271 days
37 Charly Ndjoume 11 November 1986 CMR 30 July – 1 August 2021 64 34 years 263 days
38 Jure Bučar 4 January 1966 SLO 16 September 2000 35 34 years 256 days
39 Ryan Pini 10 December 1981 PNG 11 – 12 August 2016 30 34 years 246 days
40 Arvo Aaltonen 2 December 1889 FIN 15 – 17 July 1924 4 h2 r1/3 34 years 228 days
41 Mumtaz Ahmed 7 January 1970 PAK 17 – 18 August 2004 68 34 years 224 days
42 Stany Kempompo Ngangola 8 January 1974 COD 14 – 16 August 2008 97 34 years 221 days
43 Goldup Davies 8 January 1914 GBR 5 – 7 August 1948 6 h2 r1/3 34 years 212 days
44 Filippo Magnini 2 February 1982 ITA 9 – 10 August 2016 37 34 years 190 days
45 Hjalmar Johansson 20 January 1874 SWE 15 – 18 July 1908 2 h3 r1/3 34 years 180 days
46 Guilherme Guido 12 February 1987 BRA 30 July – 1 August 2021 AC 34 years 170 days
47 Charles Pyrah 20 March 1870 USA 5 September 1904 5 34 years 169 days
48 Adama Ouédraogo 3 April 1987 BUR 30 July – 1 August 2021 54 34 years 120 days
49 Norman Wainwright 4 July 1914 GBR 2 – 3 August 1948 5 h2 r1/2 34 years 30 days
50 Peter Mankoč 4 July 1978 SLO 2 – 3 August 2012 19 34 years 30 days

50 oldest women

Rank Athlete Born NOC Discipline (Sport) Event Dates Placement Age
1 Dara Torres 15 April 1967 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 2 41 years 124 days
2 Therèse Alshammar 26 August 1977 SWE Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 12 – 13 August 2016 15 38 years 353 days
3 Fabíola Molina 22 May 1975 BRA Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Backstroke, Women 29 – 30 July 2012 24 37 years 69 days
4 Kristel Köbrich 9 August 1985 CHI Swimming (Aquatics) 800 metres Freestyle, Women 29 – 31 July 2021 19 35 years 356 days
5 Katerina Izmaylova 10 June 1977 TJK Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 3 – 4 August 2012 60 35 years 55 days
6 Cristina Chiuso 25 December 1973 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 34 34 years 236 days
7 Judith Draxler 24 March 1970 AUT Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 20 – 21 August 2004 19 34 years 150 days
8 Katerine Moreno 4 May 1974 BOL Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 64 34 years 105 days
9 Femke Heemskerk 21 September 1987 NED Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 30 July – 1 August 2021 18 33 years 314 days
10 Gisela Jacob-Arendt 5 November 1918 GER Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women 30 July – 1 August 1952 7 33 years 270 days
11 Jeanette Ottesen Gray 30 December 1987 DEN Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Women 24 – 25 July 2021 8 33 years 207 days
12 Manuela Dalla Valle 20 January 1963 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 24 July 1996 8 33 years 186 days
13 Jördis Steinegger 8 February 1983 AUT Swimming (Aquatics) 400 metres Individual Medley, Women 6 August 2016 29 33 years 180 days
14 Margit Leskinen 19 February 1915 FIN Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Breaststroke, Women 30 July – 3 August 1948 6 h2 r2/3 33 years 166 days
15 Marleen Veldhuis 29 June 1979 NED Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 3 – 4 August 2012 3 33 years 36 days
16 Svitlana Bondarenko 12 August 1971 UKR Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 20 – 21 August 2004 10 33 years 9 days
17 Federica Pellegrini 5 August 1988 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 30 July – 1 August 2021 6 32 years 361 days
18 Kirsty Coventry 16 September 1983 ZIM Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Backstroke, Women 11 – 12 August 2016 6 32 years 331 days
19 Virginia Farmer 19 October 1975 ASA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 62 32 years 303 days
20 Audrey Lacroix 17 November 1983 CAN Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Butterfly, Women 9 – 10 August 2016 16 32 years 267 days
21 Jessica Vall 22 November 1988 ESP Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 30 July – 1 August 2021 16 32 years 252 days
22 Karen Pickering 19 December 1971 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Women 18 August 2004 5 32 years 243 days
23 Alia Atkinson 11 December 1988 JAM Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Breaststroke, Women 25 – 27 July 2021 22 32 years 228 days
24 Martina Moravcová 16 January 1976 SVK Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 27 32 years 214 days
25 Dorothea Brandt 5 March 1984 GER Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 12 – 13 August 2016 14 32 years 161 days
26 Zsu Jakabos 3 April 1989 HUN Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Women 28 – 29 July 2021 7 32 years 117 days
27 Piedade Coutinho-Tavares 2 May 1920 BRA Swimming (Aquatics) 400 metres Freestyle, Women 31 July – 2 August 1952 13 32 years 92 days
28 Katinka Hosszú 3 May 1989 HUN Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Backstroke, Women 29 – 31 July 2021 20 32 years 89 days
29 Franziska Hentke 4 June 1989 GER Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Butterfly, Women 27 – 29 July 2021 13 32 years 55 days
30 Sandra Kazíková 13 July 1976 CZE Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 29 32 years 35 days
31 Vanessa García 18 July 1984 PUR Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 12 – 13 August 2016 22 32 years 26 days
32 Maria Ugolkova 18 July 1989 SUI Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Freestyle, Women 28 – 30 July 2021 26 32 years 12 days
33 Evelyn Verrasztó 17 July 1989 HUN Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Women 28 – 29 July 2021 7 32 years 12 days
34 Maggie Kelly-Hohmann 22 September 1956 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Breaststroke, Women 23 September 1988 20 32 years 1 day
35 Alison Sheppard 5 November 1972 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 20 – 21 August 2004 12 31 years 290 days
36 Hanna-Maria Seppälä 13 December 1984 FIN Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 12 – 13 August 2016 11 31 years 244 days
37 Claudia Poll 21 December 1972 CRC Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Freestyle, Women 16 – 17 August 2004 10 31 years 240 days
38 Ragnhild Hveger 10 December 1920 DEN Swimming (Aquatics) 400 metres Freestyle, Women 31 July – 2 August 1952 5 31 years 236 days
39 Melanie Slowing 10 January 1973 GUA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 20 – 21 August 2004 46 31 years 224 days
40 Ilaria Bianchi 6 January 1990 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Butterfly, Women 26 – 28 July 2021 15 31 years 203 days
41 Sylvia Gerasch 16 March 1969 GER Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 22 – 23 September 2000 4 31 years 191 days
42 Jenny Thompson 26 February 1973 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 20 – 21 August 2004 7 31 years 177 days
43 Ida Mattsson-Marko-Varga 10 March 1985 SWE Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Women 10 August 2016 5 31 years 153 days
44 Mette Jacobsen 24 March 1973 DEN Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 20 – 21 August 2004 9 31 years 150 days
45 Jeserik Pinto 21 March 1990 VEN Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 30 July – 1 August 2021 32 31 years 133 days
46 Caroline Foot 14 March 1965 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 24 July 1996 13 31 years 132 days
47 Anastasiya Zuyeva-Fesikova 8 May 1990 ROC Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 30 July – 1 August 2021 7 31 years 85 days
48 Klára Killermann-Bartos 23 June 1929 HUN Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 30 August – 2 September 1960 6 31 years 71 days
49 Paola Cavallino 6 June 1977 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Butterfly, Women 12 – 14 August 2008 21 31 years 69 days
50 Irina Bespalova 31 May 1981 RUS Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Women 3 – 4 August 2012 4 31 years 65 days

50 oldest combined

Rank Athlete Born NOC Discipline (Sport) Event Dates Placement Age
1 E. T. Jones 7 May 1850 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 4,000 metres Freestyle, Men 15 – 19 August 1900 AC h3 r1/2 50 years 104 days
2 Bartholomeus Roodenburch 29 June 1866 NED Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Backstroke, Men 16 – 17 July 1908 2 h3 r1/3 42 years 18 days
3 Dara Torres 15 April 1967 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 2 41 years 124 days
4 William Henry 28 June 1859 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 4,000 metres Freestyle, Men 15 – 19 August 1900 AC r2/2 41 years 52 days
5 Władysław Kuncewicz 23 October 1888 POL Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Freestyle, Men 10 – 11 August 1928 5 h7 r1/3 39 years 293 days
6 Therèse Alshammar 26 August 1977 SWE Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 12 – 13 August 2016 15 38 years 353 days
7 Serkan Atasay 11 March 1970 TUR Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Individual Medley, Men 13 – 15 August 2008 42 38 years 157 days
8 Mark Foster 12 May 1970 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 14 – 16 August 2008 23 38 years 96 days
9 Lars Frölander 26 May 1974 SWE Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Butterfly, Men 2 – 3 August 2012 20 38 years 69 days
10 William Robinson 23 June 1870 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Breaststroke, Men 15 – 18 July 1908 2 38 years 25 days
11 Brent Hayden 21 October 1983 CAN Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 30 July – 1 August 2021 9 37 years 284 days
12 Marc Dansou 3 November 1983 BEN Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 30 July – 1 August 2021 53 37 years 271 days
13 Jules Bessan 14 April 1979 BEN Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 11 – 12 August 2016 77 37 years 120 days
14 Mamadou Ouedraogo 30 May 1967 BUR Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 19 – 20 August 2004 81 37 years 82 days
15 Fabíola Molina 22 May 1975 BRA Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Backstroke, Women 29 – 30 July 2012 24 37 years 69 days
16 Zeno von Singalewicz 14 August 1875 AUT Swimming (Aquatics) 400 metres Breaststroke, Men 8 – 12 July 1912 AC h1 r2/3 36 years 333 days
17 Gilles Coudray 11 November 1955 CGO Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 30 July 1992 69 36 years 262 days
18 Jason Lezak 12 November 1975 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men 29 July 2012 2 36 years 260 days
19 Leonid Meshkov 14 January 1916 URS Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men 28 – 29 July 1952 10 36 years 197 days
20 Edgar Adams 7 April 1868 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 880 yards Freestyle, Men 7 September 1904 4 36 years 153 days
21 John Jarvis 24 February 1872 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 1,500 metres Freestyle, Men 21 – 25 July 1908 AC h2 r2/3 36 years 152 days
22 Felipe Lima 5 April 1985 BRA Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men 30 July – 1 August 2021 AC 36 years 118 days
23 István Szívós, Sr. 20 August 1920 HUN Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Breaststroke, Men 30 November – 6 December 1956 16 36 years 108 days
24 Johannes Bloemen 26 May 1864 NED Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Backstroke, Men 11 – 12 August 1900 4 36 years 78 days
25 Derya Büyükuncu 2 July 1976 TUR Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Backstroke, Men 1 – 2 August 2012 33 36 years 31 days
26 Paweł Korzeniowski 9 July 1985 POL Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Butterfly, Men 29 – 31 July 2021 22 36 years 22 days
27 Kristel Köbrich 9 August 1985 CHI Swimming (Aquatics) 800 metres Freestyle, Women 29 – 31 July 2021 19 35 years 356 days
28 Paul Vasseur 10 October 1884 FRA Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men 25 – 29 August 1920 4 h1 r1/2 35 years 324 days
29 László Cseh, Jr. 3 December 1985 HUN Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Individual Medley, Men 28 – 30 July 2021 7 35 years 239 days
30 Henry Taylor 17 March 1885 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men 25 – 29 August 1920 3 35 years 165 days
31 Pavlo Khnykin 5 April 1969 UKR Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 100 metres Freestyle Relay, Men 15 August 2004 10 35 years 132 days
32 Fréd Bousquet 8 April 1981 FRA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 11 – 12 August 2016 26 35 years 126 days
33 Oscar Grégoire 26 March 1877 BEL Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Backstroke, Men 9 – 13 July 1912 AC h3 r1/3 35 years 109 days
34 Anthony Ervin 26 May 1981 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 11 – 12 August 2016 1 35 years 78 days
35 Vitaly Vasilyev 5 June 1973 KGZ Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 14 – 16 August 2008 56 35 years 72 days
36 Katerina Izmaylova 10 June 1977 TJK Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 3 – 4 August 2012 60 35 years 55 days
37 George Webster 31 July 1885 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Backstroke, Men 22 – 23 August 1920 4 h2 r1/2 35 years 23 days
38 Jack Hatfield 15 August 1893 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 400 metres Freestyle, Men 7 – 9 August 1928 2 h6 r1/3 34 years 360 days
39 David Bratton October 1869 USA Swimming (Aquatics) 4 × 50 yards Freestyle Relay, Men 7 September 1904 4 34 years 312 days
40 Ben Hockin 27 September 1986 PAR Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Butterfly, Men 29 – 31 July 2021 51 34 years 307 days
41 Rogério Romero 22 November 1969 BRA Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Backstroke, Men 18 – 19 August 2004 15 34 years 271 days
42 Charly Ndjoume 11 November 1986 CMR Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 30 July – 1 August 2021 64 34 years 263 days
43 Jure Bučar 4 January 1966 SLO Swimming (Aquatics) 400 metres Freestyle, Men 16 September 2000 35 34 years 256 days
44 Ryan Pini 10 December 1981 PNG Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Butterfly, Men 11 – 12 August 2016 30 34 years 246 days
45 Cristina Chiuso 25 December 1973 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Women 15 – 17 August 2008 34 34 years 236 days
46 Arvo Aaltonen 2 December 1889 FIN Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Breaststroke, Men 15 – 17 July 1924 4 h2 r1/3 34 years 228 days
47 Mumtaz Ahmed 7 January 1970 PAK Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Freestyle, Men 17 – 18 August 2004 68 34 years 224 days
48 Stany Kempompo Ngangola 8 January 1974 COD Swimming (Aquatics) 50 metres Freestyle, Men 14 – 16 August 2008 97 34 years 221 days
49 Goldup Davies 8 January 1914 GBR Swimming (Aquatics) 200 metres Breaststroke, Men 5 – 7 August 1948 6 h2 r1/3 34 years 212 days
50 Filippo Magnini 2 February 1982 ITA Swimming (Aquatics) 100 metres Freestyle, Men 9 – 10 August 2016 37 34 years 190 days

 

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Brett
1 year ago

You have to make this for individual sports. Each sport has a different level of training and conditioning. You also can only compare sports with individual and not team sports.

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Braden Keith
Author
Reply to  Brett
1 year ago

These are all swimmers.

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0
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Human Ambition
1 year ago

If ET is on this list as a 4K Open Water swimmer, then 2016 silver medalist Spiros Gianniotis should be on it.

4
-1
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Backstrokebro
1 year ago

Today i learned that Fred bousquet is older than Anthony Ervin, and that Laszlo Cseh is actually Laszlo Cseh Jr.

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Torchbearer
1 year ago

No Australians despite AUS being the 2nd most successful nation…..CCampbell will be 32y2m if she makes Paris….

3
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Dan
1 year ago

Any chance we could get a list of the 10 oldest winners? Anthony Ervin is the only one I see on the lists above.

3
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Climate Change Hysteria!
1 year ago

Interesting to see that Michael Phelps’s record of 23 Olympic Gold medals was broken yesterday by Novak Djokovic 24 Grand Slam wins!

🙂

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LBSWIM
Reply to  Climate Change Hysteria!
1 year ago

I’m curious how you find them comparable.

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Fukuoka Gold
Reply to  LBSWIM
1 year ago

People will say anything these days

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zzzzzz
1 year ago

DEATH OF E. T. JONES
We regret to have to record the death of E T Jones of Leeds, ex-champion swimmer of the world, yesterday which took place at his residence in Leeds at about five o’clock yesterday afternoon. He had been lying ill for many months , suffering from consumption. Jones was in his fifty-fourth year , having been born at 4 St. John’s Place, Holbeck, on May 7th 1850. He stood almost 5 foot 5inches in height and his swimming weight , when in his best form, was 10 stone.
from https://www.channelswimmingdover.org.uk/content/photo/e-t-jones-champion-swimmer

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Braden Keith
Author
Reply to  zzzzzz
1 year ago

Great find!

(Consumption aka Tuberculosis)

3
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RPX
1 year ago

Margaret Court won 24, Serena was sadly one behind with 23

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About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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