Paris Olympics 2024 swimming: Defending Champions of all events ft. Caeleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky

Swimming at Paris Olympics 2024 will be one of the most exciting, as well as the most anticipated events.

For the first time since the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, swimmers from both Russia and Belarus will not be taking part at the Paris Olympics, due to the sanctions imposed by the IOC, which means that backstroke champion Evgeny Rylov won't be present at the 2024 Paris Olympics to defend his gold medals.

Evgeny Rylov [C], the backstroke champion who'll miss the Paris Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

However, there are also champions like Thomas Dean and Emma McKeon, who have not managed to make the cut for the Paris Olympics this time [Emma McKeon qualified for the relay]. Let's have a look at some of the defending champions of the swimming events, who will be present at the Paris Olympics to defend their titles:

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Defending of all swimming events participating at Paris Olympics ft. Caeleb Dressel, Katie Ledecky

#15) Ana Marcela Cunha [Brazil]

Ana Marcela Cunha after winning the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

She might not be at the top of her game as of this moment, but it would be ludicrous to write the Brazilian swimmer off from the 10 km open water swimming event at the Paris Olympics. Ana Marcela Cunha had won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, apart from several World Championship gold medals in short and long-course open water swimming.

#14) Florian Wellbrock [Germany]

Florian Wellbrock of Germany in action at Tokyo Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

At the Paris Olympics, Florian Wellbrock would be looking forward to extending his legacy as a champion 10 km open water swimmer. He is the current world champion, as well as the defending Olympic champion from the Tokyo Olympics. Apart from that, Florian Wellbrock also has a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle event from Tokyo 2020 to his credit.

#13) Chase Kalisz [USA]

Chase Kalisz in action at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials [ Image Source: Getty]

Chase Kalisz had won a silver medal in the 400m individual medley at the Rio Olympics, which was upgraded to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 30-year-old swimmer would love to win another gold medal to cement his legacy at the Paris Olympics.

#12) Yui Ohashi [Japan]

Yui Ohashi with her Olympic gold [Image Source : Getty]

While she couldn't qualify for the 200m individual medley, Yui Ohashi has once again qualified for the 400m individual medley. It would be interesting to see if the Japanese swimmer manages to defend her 400m title or not.

#11) Zhang Yufei [China]

Zhang Yufei of China in action [Image Source: Getty]

Like Yui Ohashi, this Chinese champion couldn't make it to the 100m butterfly. However, Zhang Yufei, who is the defending champion in the 200m butterfly, has managed to qualify, and she will be trying his best for a second consecutive Olympic gold medal in this event.

#10) Maggie Mac Neil [Canada]

Maggie Mac Neil in action [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source: Getty]

Maggie Mac Neil may not be in the best of form, but she still managed to win a silver medal in the 100m butterfly, where she is the defending Olympic champion. At the Paris Olympics, Mac Neil will try her best to win another gold medal.

#9) Kristof Milak [Hungary]

Kristof Milak in action at the semifinals [Image Source: Getty]

From the Youth Olympics to the Olympic Games, the Hungarian champion has left almost nothing. Milak, who is the defending Olympic champion in men's 200m butterfly is one of the biggest challengers to the French swimming sensation Leon Marchand, who will also be participating the event.

#8) Zac Stubblety Cook [Australia]

Zac Stubblety Cook in action at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials [Image Source: Getty]

The Australian swimmer is the defending Olympic champion, as well as a World Championship silver medalist from the previous year in men's 200m breaststroke. Zac Stubblety Cook was once a world record holder in this event, but now, he is focusing on just one target: the coveted Olympic gold medal.

#7) Kaylee McKeown [Australia]

Kaylee McKeown in action at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials [Image Source: Getty]

Like the Tokyo Olympics, Kaylee McKeown is more than prepared for the 100m and 200m backstroke. Apart from that, McKeown is also aiming for an Olympic gold in the 200m medley, as well as the medley relay. It would be interesting to see how many gold medals Kaylee McKeown brings back from the Paris Olympics.

#6) Adam Peaty [Great Britain]

Adam Peaty in action at Tokyo Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

Although he did not win the gold medal at the recently concluded World Championships in Doha, Adam Peaty is still aiming for the 100m breaststroke gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Adam Peaty has won two successive gold medals in the 100m breaststroke for Great Britain, and nothing would be better than a golden hat trick at the Paris Olympics.

#5) Ariarne Titmus [Australia]

Ariarne Titmus with her 200 m freestyle gold medal from Tokyo Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

This Australian Olympic gold medalist would not only aim to defend her titles in 200m and 400m freestyle but also aim to deny Katie Ledecky the perfect farewell in the 800m freestyle event. Ariarne Titmus had missed the gold by a whisker at Tokyo, and she doesn't want to repeat the same mistake twice this time at the Paris Olympics 2024.

#4) Robert Finke [USA]

Robert Finke with his Olympic gold medal [Image Source: Getty]

Nicknamed 'Bobby' by his friends, the middle-distance swimmer would aim to extend his legacy by winning the 800m and 1500m freestyle events once again. Although he didn't do extremely well at the World Championships, Robert Finke has complete confidence in his finishing skills in these races.

#3) Tatjana Schoenmaker [South Africa]

Can Tatjana Schoenmaker repeat her Tokyo heroics at Paris Olympics? [Image Source: Getty]

This South African swimmer did a Wayde Van Niekerk at the Tokyo Olympics and broke the world record while winning the Olympic gold for women's 200m breaststroke. Tatjana Schoenmaker is also the defending world champion, and she would look to extend her legacy with a second successive Olympic gold medal.

#2) Caeleb Dressel [USA]

Time for Caeleb Dressel to recreate history [Image Source: Getty]

Caeleb Dressel is one of the rare few swimmers with an absolute clean slate, i.e. losing none of the Olympic races he participated in. If he wins all his events once again, he will overcome Mark Spitz to become the second most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time, only behind Michael Phelps

#1) Katie Ledecky [USA]

Can Katie Ledecky [L] become the greatest female swimmer of all time at Paris Olympics 2024? [Image Source: Getty]

If Katie Ledecky manages to win three Olympic gold medals out of a possible five, she would overcome Mark Spitz as one of the most decorated American swimmers of all time, and become the most decorated female American swimmer of all time. All she needs to do is win the 400m, 800m, as well as the 1500m freestyle event.