On Thursday at the 2014 World Short Course Championships in Doha, Qatar, American Ryan Lochte won the 21st gold medal in the prestigious history of his career at this event. Coming into the meet, he already had easily the most World Short Course Championships medals and gold medals of anyone in history, and now he’s done so in 6 straight World Championships.
- 2004 – 800 free relay
- 2006 – 200 back
- 2006 – 200 IM
- 2006 – 400 IM
- 2008 – 100 IM
- 2008 – 200 IM
- 2008 – 400 IM
- 2008 – 400 free relay
- 2010 – 200 free
- 2010 – 200 back
- 2010 – 100 IM
- 2010 – 200 IM
- 2010 – 400 IM
- 2010 – 400 free relay
- 2012 – 200 free
- 2012 – 100 IM
- 2012 – 200 IM
- 2012 – 400 free relay
- 2012 – 800 free relay
- 2014 – 800 free relay
In total, with three medals so far, Lochte has now 33 career medals at this meet – if he earns one more, he will have more than twice as many as anybody else in history. The closest male is Michael Klim, who is long-retired, with 15; the closest females are Theresa Alshammar, Jenny Thompson, and Martina Moravcova, each with 17 career medals. Two of them (Thompson and Moravcova) are also long-since retired, and Alshammar is close to that point of her career as well at 37 years old.
The most successful World Short Course Championships swimmers in history:
- Ryan Lochte, USA, 33 medals (21 gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze)
- Therese Alshammar, Sweden, 17 medals (10 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze)
- Jenny Thompson, USA, 17 medals (9 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze)
- Martina Moravcova, Slovakia, 17 medals (7 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze)
- Johanna Sjoeberg, Sweden, 14 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze)
- Michael Klim, Australia, 14 medals (7 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze)
- Matthew Welsh, Australia, 14 medals (7 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze)
- Lars Frolander, Sweden, 14 medals (7 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze)
- James Hickman, Great Britain, 14 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze)
- Matthew Dunn, Australia, 10 medals (8 gold, 2 silver)
What’s interesting about this list is that only one other swimmer in the top 10 is still an active swimmer, and that’s Alshammar, on the tail end of her career. After Lochte, it’s a long search to find anyone swimming at this meet even in his same stratosphere. Chad Le Clos, already with three golds in Doha, has 6 total – ranking him second behind Lochte among active males.
On the women’s side, the next-closest is Mireia Belmonte, who has 9 total medals, including three this week.
The streak of 6-straight by Lochte breaks a tie he had with Britain’s James Hickman for the most consecutive World Championships with a gold medal. Hickman only won 5 in his career, but they all came in the 200 fly at 5 consecutive meets (1997/1999/2000/2002/2004).
I take my hat off for what Ryan has accomplished in those world championships years . Since i saw that incredible 800 free relay in Athens 2004 , within which Ryan did a great job , i never stopped to be amazed about his persistency , longevity , endurance , and huge capacity to be on top when it counts . That list of Gold winning medals is just mind boggling . Congrats Ryan, u still got what it takes no matter what happens .
Hickman’s wins were in the 200 fly.
You’re correct, my mistake.
He is the greatest short course swimmer ever!!!!! Congrats ryan
Amen to that! He is the short course GOAT…need to find a name for him!
I believe he still holds 2 US open records in SCY…the 200 back and 200 IM. Incredible that those records still stand; shows how great he is in this format.