Michael Phelps—pictured here (right) at the 2005 World Championships– is currently the holder of 22 World Championship gold medals – more than any other athlete.
The aquatics discipline of swimming has been the core component of every edition of the FINA World Aquatics Championships since its introduction in 1973. In 1991, open water swimming events were introduced to the program of the World Championships.
The number of events competed for at each edition of the championships has grown steadily through the years. In 1973, 29 events were swum: 15 events for men and 14 events for women. In 2015, the combined number of events for men and women including long course and open water events was 49, a drastic increase compared to the first edition. Historically, 50 different events were competed in 16 editions of the championships.
Long course events have been competed since the inaugural edition of the championships in 1973. The youngest male swimmer to participate in the World Swimming Championships was Ahnt Khaung Htut[6] from Myanmar, who was 12 years old in 2015. He took part at the 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke events. The youngest female swimmer to participate in the World Swimming Championships was 10-year-old Alzain Tareq[7] from Bahrain in 2015. She participated at the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events.
Open water swimming events have been competed since the sixth edition of the championships in 1991. From 2000 to 2010, FINA organized in even years specific championships for open water swimming events, the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.
The World Championships have often been the occasion at which elite swimmers reach the peak of their season, and hence numerous world records are often broken.
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
East Germany
United States
Australia
Cali, Colombia
Hungary
West Berlin, West Germany
Soviet Union
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Madrid, Spain
Rome, Italy
China
Fukuoka, Japan
Russia
Montreal, Canada
Brazil
France
Gwangju, South Korea[2][3][4]
Doha, Qatar
