Katinka Hosszu
Ryan Lochte
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Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Ryan Lochte leads 3 of 4 categories. Our all-time ranking places Katinka Hosszu at #10 and Ryan Lochte at #12.
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The case for Katinka Hosszu
The 'Iron Lady', the most prolific racer of her generation and the queen of the individual medley. Hosszu won three gold medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics, in the 200m IM, 400m IM and 100m backstroke, and set world records in the 200m IM (2:06.12) and 400m IM (4:26.36) that showcased her all-round mastery. She amassed around nine world-championship titles and built an unprecedented career on the World Cup circuit, racing dozens of events per season for prize money and points, hence her nickname. Where most stars pick a lane, Hosszu contested every stroke and distance, and her medley dominance across the 2010s, combining butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle at the highest level, made her one of the most versatile swimmers ever.
The case for Ryan Lochte
Phelps's great rival and, on his day, the only man who could beat him. Lochte won six Olympic gold medals and 12 Olympic medals overall across four Games, specialising in the individual medley and backstroke, and set world records in the 200m IM (1:54.00) and 200m backstroke. He was one of the most decorated swimmers in World Championship history, with 27 medals across long-course and short-course events, a testament to his range and durability. Fearsomely versatile, he pushed Phelps in the 200m and 400m IM and the 200m backstroke throughout their careers, often forcing world-record swims. A dominant medley racer whose reputation off the pool was later dented, Lochte's competitive record places him firmly among the greats.