For years, women’s sprint freestyle was often defined by a handful of stars separating themselves from the rest of the field. Whether it was Sarah Sjostrom in the 50m freestyle or a small group of established contenders in the 100m freestyle, there was usually a noticeable gap between the world’s best and everyone else.
That gap is getting smaller.
A look at the current world rankings reveals just how much the events have changed over the last three seasons. The biggest story isn’t necessarily the fastest time in the world. It’s how many swimmers are now capable of producing elite-level performances.
The Women’s 50m Freestyle: Everyone Is Within Reach
The women’s 50m freestyle may be the clearest example of how competitive sprint swimming has become.
Two years ago, Sarah Sjostrom sat atop the world rankings with a 23.69, the only swimmer under 23.90. By the end of May, the difference between 1st and 10th in the world was 0.60 seconds.
2023/2024 Women’s 50m Freestyle World Rankings (May 31, 2024)
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 23.69
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 23.91
- Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 23.95
- Shayna Jack (AUS) – 24.09
- Cate Campbell (AUS) – 24.10
- Wu Qingfeng (CHN) – 24.22
- Zhang Yufei (CHN) – 24.26
- Abbey Weitzeil (USA) – 24.27
- Meg Harris (AUS) – 24.28
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.29
Gap from 1st to 10th: 0.60
One season later, the rankings had already tightened considerably.
2024/2025 Women’s 50m Freestyle World Rankings (May 31, 2025)
- Wu Qingfeng (CHN) – 24.18
- Cheng Yujie (CHN) – 24.33
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.33
- Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 24.42
- Sara Curtis (ITA) – 24.43
- Torri Huske (USA) – 24.47
- Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 24.47
- Eva Okaro (GBR) – 24.48
- Milou van Wijk (NED) – 24.48
- Meg Harris (AUS) – 24.57
Gap from 1st to 10th: 0.39
Now compare that to where things stand today.
2025/2026 Women’s 50m Freestyle World Rankings (May 31, 2026)
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 24.20
- Wu Qingfeng (CHN) – 24.21
- Cheng Yujie (CHN) – 24.23
- Anna Moesch (USA) – 24.27
- Sara Curtis (ITA) – 24.29
- Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 24.29
- Milou van Wijk (NED) – 24.33
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 24.34
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.36
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.39
Gap from 1st to 10th: 0.19
That’s less than two-tenths of a second separating ten swimmers.
Think about that for a moment.
The difference between Kate Douglass at the top of the rankings and Gretchen Walsh in 10th is smaller than the margin that often separates medalists in a major international final.
The rankings also show how quickly the event is evolving. Last season, Sara Curtis‘ 24.43 ranked 5th in the world. This year, a 24.43 wouldn’t make the top 10.
The names have become more diverse as well. The current top 10 includes swimmers from the United States, China, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Hong Kong. Rather than one dominant nation or one dominant athlete, the event has become a crowded race for position.
That depth was already visible at recent global championships. At the Paris Olympics, Sarah Sjostrom claimed gold in 23.71 ahead of Meg Harris (23.97) and Zhang Yufei (24.20). One year later at the World Championships in Singapore, Meg Harris won the title in 24.02 with Wu Qingfeng and Cheng Yujie taking silver and bronze.
The podiums keep changing. The margins keep shrinking.
The Women’s 100m Freestyle Is Following The Same Path
The 100m freestyle tells a similar story, although the progression has been driven by both depth and speed.
2023/2024 Women’s 100m Freestyle World Rankings (May 31, 2024)
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 52.02
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 52.26
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 52.27
- Meg Harris (AUS) – 52.59
- Yang Junxuan (CHN) – 52.68
- Shayna Jack (AUS) – 52.76
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 52.98
- Torri Huske (USA) – 53.08
- Emma McKeon (AUS) – 53.09
- Anna Hopkin (GBR) – 53.09
2024/2025 Women’s 100m Freestyle World Rankings (May 31, 2025)
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 52.77
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 52.90
- Torri Huske (USA) – 52.95
- Sara Curtis (ITA) – 53.01
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 53.12
- Simone Manuel (USA) – 53.23
- Wu Qingfeng (CHN) – 53.27
- Cheng Yujie (CHN) – 53.35
- Daria Klepikova – 53.48
- Milou van Wijk (NED) – 53.51
2025/2026 Women’s 100m Freestyle World Rankings (May 31, 2026)
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 51.86
- Anna Moesch (USA) – 51.94
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 52.36
- Meg Harris (AUS) – 52.56
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 52.66
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 53.01
- Simone Manuel (USA) – 53.33
- Rylee Erisman (USA) – 53.34
- Sara Curtis (ITA) – 53.40
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 53.44
The biggest development this season is at the top.
Marrit Steenbergen has already broken 52″ with her 51.86 from Mare Nostrum, while Anna Moesch sits just behind at 51.94. Two swimmers under 52 seconds before June is something the event hadn’t seen in recent seasons.
The depth remains impressive as well. Five women have already been under 53 seconds, and the top 10 includes athletes from five different nations.
Looking back at recent championship results, the progression is easy to see. The 2024 Paris Olympic podium featured Sarah Sjostrom (52.16), Torri Huske (52.29), and Siobhan Haughey (52.33). At the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, Marrit Steenbergen took gold in 52.55 ahead of Mollie O’Callaghan and Torri Huske.
Those performances remain world-class, but the number of swimmers capable of approaching them continues to grow.
A New Generation Is Arriving
Another noticeable change is the age profile of the rankings.
Veterans such as Sarah Sjostrom, Siobhan Haughey, Katarzyna Wasick, and Simone Manuel remain competitive, but they are increasingly sharing space with a younger group that includes Sara Curtis, Anna Moesch, Milou van Wijk, Cheng Yujie, and Wu Qingfeng.
The established stars are still there. They just have more company than they did a few years ago.
For national teams, that’s good news. Greater individual depth translates directly to stronger relay lineups and more medal opportunities. It also raises the standard required to qualify for international teams and championship finals.
Looking Ahead
Whether these rankings hold through the summer remains to be seen. National trials, continental championships, and major international meets are still ahead.
But one thing is already clear.
Women’s sprint freestyle is more competitive than it was two years ago.
The best evidence isn’t found at the top of the rankings. It’s found in the shrinking space between 1st and 10th.
In the women’s 50m freestyle, that gap has fallen from 0.60 seconds in 2024 to just 0.19 seconds in 2026.
That’s a remarkable change in a remarkably short period of time.
The three top times in 2023/2024 were set at the World Championships in Doha, which took place in February. While not fully attended, it still isn’t a fair comparison to other years.
all of the lists are prior to olympics or worlds as it clearly states “as of may 31st.”
But..how can only count only a half of the year for ranking in each year..there were very good swims out there
They mean that even when you’re only taking in-season times, they’re going to be different in an Olympic year vs non-Olympic.
And I agree about AI. The biggest giveaway is the “It’s not just X. It’s also Y” and there are multiple of those here.
So the 6th fastest time in 2026 would of only been 10th in 2024 – and this shows that sprinting has never been this deep?? I am confused…………………..
So am I.
Probably written by AI.
Also, there are some missing data.
Definitely reads like AI. is there no quality control?!
This article has a very strange methodology.
I just don’t think the range being 23.6 to 24.2 in one year, and then the next year it being 24.1 to 24.5 is proof that the field is “deeper”. If anything it just suggests the field was slower.
I agree with the sentiment and think the fields are deeper but a rudimentary comparison of 1 vs 10 for in season swims before May is a very odd metric to rely on
Out of curiosity how does one of the worlds top female sprinters Meg Harris’s 23,97 Olympic silver in 2024 and 24.02 world champ times not feature in either 24/25 rankings best times ?
Pretty sure Big G did a 23.91 sometime during 24 season sometime also?
Looks like it’s only from Jan-May each year which is a bit weird. Before Aussie and USA trials plus the big meet. Plus the first year is distorted by Sarah’s 23.6. All slightly weird for an article.
Crazy that u now have to go like 52.5 in season for people to even talk about you as a medal contender before the meet
interesting that 4 of the 10 train together at UVA
It’s crazy to me that Oleksiak and Manuel won the 100 m freestyle in 2016 at 52.70. The time was a Continental Americas record for both, an Olympic record, and national record respectively. Now in 2028, we may see the winning time be well under 52, and in Paris, 52.70 wouldn’t have even won a medal.
What’s crazy is that pair winning the race with Campbell and Sjostrom in the field, who had both broken the WR in the previous year