What Is The Longest Individual Winning Streak In Olympic Swimming?

Original published May 9, 2021

Last week, he learned about the longest current American gold medal drought in Olympic individual events.

Since the United States has won every individual (pool) event on the current swimming Olympic program – with the obvious exception of the men’s 800 freestyle and women’s 1500 freestyle, which will make their debut in Tokyo next summer – it might also be interesting to take a look at another related statistic. Instagram’s Swimming Stats page has published the countries with the longest winning streaks in Olympic swimming. To no one’s surprise, the United States dominates the list.

In fact, the two longest winning streaks are still running: the men’s 100 and 200 backstroke. The last U.S. defeat in both events came in 1992, which means that the Americans have been winning the events for six straight Olympic Games.

In the men’s 200 back, it is remarkable that all six gold medals from 1996 until 2016 were won by different swimmers, reflecting the U.S. depth in the event.

In the men’s 100 back, the streak could be even longer. In 1988 and 1992, David Berkoff and Jeff Rouse left those Olympic Games having set world records in the event – Berkoff on the heats, Rouse on the 4×100 medley lead-off – but ended up with silver medals in the individual event. Had they won the 100 back, the Americans would have an incredible winning streak of nine at the Olympics.

The longest winning streak in women’s events was registered in the 800 freestyle for five Olympics, between 1984 and 2000. And it could be a six-Olympic streak, since the winning time at the 1980 Moscow Games, boycotted by the Americans, was won by Australian Michelle Ford with in a time of 8:28.90, and American Kim Linehan clocked 8:27.86 during the US Nationals two days after the Olympic final.

The only country other than U.S. to appear on the list is Australia. Australian swimmers have won more gold medals than any other nation in the men’s 1500 freestyle, so it is no surprise they have a remarkable winning streak in the event. From 1992 until 2004, Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett won every Olympic race, and in three of those four Olympic Games the Australians went 1-2 on the podium.

This is an Olympic list, so Michael Phelps should make at least one appearance. And he does it in style. All by himself, Phelps produced one of the most amazing winning streaks on this list, winning the men’s 200 individual medley four times in a row from 2004 until 2016. It is the only four-peat ever registered in Olympic swimming in individual events.

Michael Andrew, Ryan Lochte, or other American swimmers might have the chance to keep this streak alive for the U.S. this year. As well as Ryan Murphy, Shaine Casas, and others in the backstroke events. Do you think they can do it? Or are we about to see the end of the two longest winning streaks in the history of Olympic swimming in individual events?

Of course, we could list the longest winning streaks on relays, and the USA would dominate as well. But this is a matter for another article.

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Joel
2 years ago

The title should not say “individual”. It’s country. Unless you are Phelps.

Troyy
Reply to  Joel
2 years ago

Individual events rather than relays.

Joel
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

aaah thanks Troyy. Silly me

I_Said_It
2 years ago

100 Back could have been longer if Japan & Canada hadn’t been spoilers in 1988 & 1992

Eric the eel > Phelps
2 years ago

Rylov is gonna break some streaks this summer

Sam B
2 years ago

design-wise that instagram post mage is a horrible idea, bad fonts, bad font size, bold for no reason, bad design, not legible and that is what the whole article is about. I wish you could just post the data as text, there are so many things wrong with data presented as an image

CRD
Reply to  Sam B
2 years ago

ok boomer

SculptedSpartan
2 years ago

Wow you learn something new every day…

I had no idea that Brad Bridgewater and Tripp Schwenk went 1-2 in the 200 back in 1996 before the Krayzelburg and Piersol era began.

American men’s backstroke has been loaded for a hot minute.

Then the supersuits took things to a new level.

Who on here thinks 1:51.9 will be beaten anytime soon? Such an insane time

Eagleswim
Reply to  SculptedSpartan
2 years ago

I think that one is as out of reach of the current crop as the biederman records, and peirsol was only wearing legs…

Tea rex
Reply to  SculptedSpartan
2 years ago

The number of minor medals in the middle of the backstroke streak makes it even more impressive. As often as not, it was an American gold and another American on the podium

Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

If the 🐐 🐐 decided to pull a come back and only swim the 200 IM, what do people reckon would his chances be ?? I have a feeling it has been one of the softer events in the past couple of years ….

Woulda coulda shoulda obviously

Mango
Reply to  Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

I imagine 50 year-old Phelps, dropping every event other than the 2IM, dialed in and fueled by dad/old man strength, still dishing out 1:54s. Every Olympics the other 2IM finalists thinking “when will this damn guy retire”.

iLikePsych
Reply to  Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

If he had been secretly training for the last year or two, I would give him equal odds to Seto or the other top contenders, though depends if he takes on his past relay load

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

zero

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Tommy Schmitt
2 years ago

The goat, if he could train 18+ months, goes a 1:55 low to 1:54 mid if his focus is only on the 5-peat in the 200IM. That’s a big if though because the second spot for the 100 fly is wide open and he could make some relays as well.

Marklewis
2 years ago

The men’s 100 and 200 back and the men’s 200 IM are the only current streaks.

Ryan Murphy is probably the best bet to continue one of the streaks.

You know, it would be a swimming story for the ages if Ryan Lochte won the gold in Tokyo in the 200 IM to continue Phelps streak. The two of them were by far the best in the event.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Marklewis
2 years ago

Always wonder if it would’ve been Phelps’ streak if Lochte hadn’t done the 200 back final 30 min before the 200 IM in London.

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

If you’re going down that path…. what if Lochte had stayed sober, out of trouble and focused all those years? Judging by the Sports Illustrated article amazing he did as well as he had.

Both he and Phelps had some things they could have done better.

Beach bum jason
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

We could say the say about Phelps. What if he fully trained between 09 and 2012? His times in London would have been far better then what they were

dresselgoat
Reply to  Marklewis
2 years ago

Lochte holding off the field to get his first 200 IM gold would be fun to watch

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Why have a picture of MA (or anyone else who hasn’t been to the Olympics) on this article?

Swimmer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

I was thinking the same thing but I am assuming because he is one of the US’s best chances at continuing the 200im streak.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Swimmer
2 years ago

I never jumped on the hype train. Unlike Michael Andrew, Chase Kalisz has actually won an individual gold medal (2) at the FINA World Aquatics Championships. Too bad Chase Kalisz has not been able to retain his 2017-2018 form.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

I would have preferred Ryan Murphy by a country mile.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
2 years ago

Hell, I would’ve gone for even Cody. At least he’s an Olympic medalist.

iLikePsych
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Ah yes the fabled US Men’s 100 sec vlog streak