Sarah Sjostrom
Ryan Lochte
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Ryan Lochte leads 3 of 4 categories. Our all-time ranking places Sarah Sjostrom at #11 and Ryan Lochte at #12.
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The case for Sarah Sjostrom
The finest sprint and butterfly swimmer Europe has produced and a model of longevity. Sjostrom won the 100m butterfly at Rio 2016 in a world-record 55.48 that still stands, then reinvented herself as a freestyle sprinter, winning both the 50m and 100m freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympics after an elbow injury that nearly ended her career. She has claimed three Olympic golds and around seven medals overall, together with roughly eight world-championship titles and world records in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle. First reaching a major final as a teenager in 2008 and still winning golds sixteen years later, Sjostrom's blend of explosive speed and career durability across two distinct specialties is almost unique in the sport.
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.