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American swimmers have been the most dominant in the sport since the 1900s. From the late Johnny Weissmuller to Michael Phelps, USA Swimming has been the home of many world record holders in the sport.
This dominance looks set to continue, with Caeleb Dressel and others continuing to win one laurel after another for the country. Like men's swimming, the USA has been dominant in the women's competitions too, with Katie Ledecky the current torchbearer. But for now, let's take a look at the top five greatest male American swimmers of all time.
Five greatest male American swimmers of all time
#1 Michael Phelps
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There have been faster swimmers than Michael Phelps in the sport, but no one has had the level of success he has had. He exhibited impressive longevity at the top level, competing in five successive Olympic Games from 2000 to 2016.
Phelps won an astonishing 23 gold medals, adding three silver and two bronze medals to that as well. He broke 39 world records in his swimming career while winning 46 gold medals in the World Championships.
#2 Mark Spitz
Mark Spitz turned heads at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, winning a then-record seven Olympic gold medals. The record was later bettered by Phelps, who won eight at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, Spitz won two golds, along with a silver and bronze.
Spitz set 33 world records during his career while also winning five Pan-American gold medals. In domestic competitions, he won 31 US Amateur Athletic Union Titles and eight NCAA titles as well, earning a place among the greatest American swimmers of all time.
#3 Johnny Weissmuller
It's almost been a century since Johnny Weissmuller was swimming at the Olympic Games, and his achievements continue to be impressive. He set a whopping tally of 67 world records in his swimming career while winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal.
Weissmuller also won an incredible 52 U.S. National Championships in his career. The late swimmer later turned to acting and is widely known for his role of Tarzan in motion pictures.
#4 Ryan Lochte
Ryan Lochte is the second most decorated male American swimmer of all time behind Michael Phelps. He won six Olympic gold medals in his illustrious career as well as three silver and three bronze medals. Lochte’s seven individual Olympic medals make him the second-most decorated male Olympic swimmer of all time behind Phelps.
The 39-year-old also set several world records in his career, and his 200m individual medley record still stands. Lochte’s combined medal tally from the Olympic Games and World Championships is 77 medals, 45 of which are gold, making him one of the best American swimmers in the last decade.
#5 Caeleb Dressel
Caeleb Dressel has only won seven Olympic medals till now, but all of those have been gold. He has won 22 gold medals in the World Aquatic Championships, taking his overall tally of Olympic and world medals to 29.
Dressel currently holds the world records in the 100m butterfly (both long and short course), 50m freestyle (short course), and 100-meter individual medley. With several more years in the 27-year-old’s tank, he is surely going to better his medals tally and records and could etch his name even higher among the greatest American swimmers of all time.
