“2024 Sports Spotlight: China’s Controversial Doping Scandal, Farewells of Swimming Legends, and Ledecky’s Olympic Glory”

In 2024, the realm of swimming witnessed significant achievements, with competitors retiring and fresh records established. Australian swimmer Mack Horton announced his resignation, while Canada’s Summer McIntosh halted Katie Ledecky’s 13-year victory streak in the 800m freestyle. Record-setting displays, including Ariarne Titmus’s world record in the 200m freestyle and Ledecky’s remarkable feats, kept the sport prominent, culminating at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where new champions surfaced.

Here’s a summary of the most notable events from swimming in 2024:

January

Rio Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton retires from competitive swimming

Australian gold medallist Mack Horton, known for his fierce competition with China’s Sun Yang, declared his retirement from global swimming. At 27 years old, he clinched gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

February

Summer McIntosh concludes Katie Ledecky’s 13-year winning streak in the 800m freestyle

Canada’s 17-year-old Summer McIntosh triumphed over Katie Ledecky in the 800m freestyle at the Southern Zone South Sectional Championships meet in Orlando, breaking the American’s 13-year undefeated streak at the event. McIntosh recorded a national record of 8:11.39, surpassing Ledecky’s time of 8:17.12. 

Beijing to host 2029 World Championships

Organizers announced that Beijing will be the venue for the 2029 World Aquatics Championships, marking the return of the multi-sport event to China for the first time in close to 20 years.

April

Joseph Schooling, Singapore’s sole Olympic champion, announces retirement

Joseph Schooling, Singapore’s first and only Olympic gold medallist, declared his retirement at the age of 28. Often referred to as “Singapore’s Flying Fish,” Schooling made history in 2016 by defeating his idol, Michael Phelps, to secure the 100m butterfly at the Rio Olympics with a time of 50.39 seconds.

Chinese swimmers permitted to compete at Tokyo Olympics despite positive doping results

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) permitted 23 Chinese swimmers to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, despite positive tests for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, after accepting China’s assertion of sample contamination. This decision enabled the swimmers to capture six medals, including three golds, igniting controversy.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and other countries demanded a review of WADA’s procedures, while the IOC expressed trust in its management of the case. Meanwhile, Team USA’s athlete organizations insisted on an independent inquiry into the situation.

China sent 11 swimmers associated with the doping controversy to the 2024 Paris Olympics. China’s anti-doping organization stated it would “never” comply with a U.S. request to disclose details of its investigation.

May

Katie Ledecky receives U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom

Nine-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky was bestowed the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. The 21-time World Champion was among 19 individuals awarded the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Ledecky became the second-youngest athlete to receive the accolade, following Simone Biles, who was awarded it in 2022. 

WADA lifts penalties against Tunisia’s anti-doping body

The World Anti-Doping Agency reinstated Tunisia’s national anti-doping organization two weeks after imposing sanctions that caused upheaval in the nation. WADA reported it had “received confirmation that a required governmental decree had come into effect” and that the Tunisian National Anti-Doping Organization (ANAD) had “successfully fulfilled its obligations to regain compliance” by aligning its national regulations with the world anti-doping code.

Australia’s Hodges retires from swimming

Australian swimmer Chelsea Hodges, who contributed to her nation’s gold medal in the women’s 4×100 metres medley relay at the Tokyo Olympics, has retired from international competition at the age of 22 after battling injuries.

June

Singapore selected to host World Aquatics Championships 2025

World Aquatics designated Singapore as the host of the World Aquatics Championships, which will occur from 11 July to 3 August 2025. Six aquatic disciplines—swimming, water polo, diving, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving—will takes center stage over 24 days, with over 2500 athletes expected to participate. Singapore Sports Hub and Sentosa will serve as the venues for the event.

No male artistic swimmers at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Despite World Aquatics’ progressive decision to allow male participation in artistic swimming at the Olympics, there will be no male swimmers among the 10 nations in the team event in Paris, following the exclusion of pioneer Bill May from the U.S. squad. World Aquatics expressed being “very disappointed” by the U.S. team’s announcement.

Ariarne Titmus breaks women’s 200m freestyle world record at the Australian Olympic trials

Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus shattered the women’s 200m freestyle world record at the Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane. Titmus clocked 1:52.23, surpassing compatriot Mollie O’Callaghan’s previous record of 1:52.85 set during last year’s World Championships in Fukuoka.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas unsuccessful in challenge against exclusive women’s event rules

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas was unsuccessful in her challenge against regulations that bar her from competing in elite women’s events due to judges ruling she lacked standing to pursue the case. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel of three judges rejected Thomas’ request for arbitration with the governing body, World Aquatics.

Gretchen Walsh sets 100m butterfly world record at U.S. Olympic swimming trials

Gretchen Walsh established a world record in the women’s 100-meter butterfly, achieving a time of 55.18 seconds in a semifinal heat at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. Walsh was over half a second ahead of world-record pace at the turn and finished strongly to surpass the previous record of 55.48 set by Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Regan Smith sets 100m backstroke World Record at the U.S. Olympic trials

Regan Smith achieved a world record in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. The 22-year-old Minnesota native finished in 57.13 seconds, well surpassing the record of 57.33 established a year earlier by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown.

Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu chosen to represent India via Universality Quota

Swimmers Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu were selected to represent India at the forthcoming Paris Olympics through the Universality Quota, as announced by the Swimming Federation of India (SFI).

READ | Paris 2024 Olympics: I want to be as impeccable as Messi and as resilient as Nadal, claims Srihari Nataraj

ALSO READ | Paris Olympics 2024: Initially uncertain, Dhinidhi has finally found his passion for swimming and will participate on the grandest platform

July and August – (Paris Olympics 2024)

Key outcomes:

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus triumphed over her main competitors Summer McIntosh of Canada and USA’s

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Katie Ledecky aims to protect her 400m freestyle championship.

Tatjana Smith secured South Africa’s inaugural gold in Paris and added the 100-metre breaststroke championship to the 200 metres title she earned at Tokyo 2021 while competing under her birth name of Schoenmaker.

Australian powerhouse Kaylee McKeown overwhelmed Regan Smith to prolong her dominance in the 100 metres backstroke before Irish pioneer Daniel Wiffen made history as the first male swimmer from his country to achieve an Olympic swimming medal with gold in the 800m freestyle.

China’s Pan shatters 100m freestyle world record for gold

China’s Pan Zhanle shattered his own 100 metres freestyle world record at the Paris Olympics, clinching an incredible gold medal in the event while outperforming numerous world-class competitors. The 19-year-old’s time of 46.40 seconds reduced his prior record by 0.40 seconds, previously set at the World Championships in Doha in February, where he made a notable entry with a remarkable relay opening swim.

Katie Ledecky becomes the most decorated female Olympic swimmer

Katie Ledecky officially became the most accomplished female Olympic swimmer in history, amassing 13 medals, after the U.S. team secured silver in the 4×200 meters freestyle relay, following Australia’s gold and China’s bronze. Subsequently, Ledecky made history by winning her record-matching ninth gold medal and 14th overall when she triumphed in an unprecedented fourth women’s 800m freestyle championship, finishing in 8:11.04, 1.25 seconds ahead of Australia’s Ariarne Titmus.

With this achievement, Ledecky equaled former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina as the female athlete with the highest number of Olympic gold medals. She also became one of just two swimmers, alongside Michael Phelps, to secure four Olympic golds in the same event. With her nine gold medals, she surpassed Jenny Thompson for the most Olympic golds in women’s swimming. Ledecky holds the all-time record for women’s swimming with a total of 14 Olympic medals.

READ | Katie Ledecky at Olympics: Everything you should know about the most decorated female Olympic swimmer 

Marchand clinches fourth gold medal of Summer Games

French favorite Leon Marchand secured his fourth gold medal of the Paris Olympics by winning the men’s 200 metres Individual Medley in an Olympic record time. Marchand became the first French athlete to achieve four individual golds in a single Summer Games and only the third male swimmer in history to do so, following Americans Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz.

USA triumphs in mixed 4×100 medley gold in world record time

The United States set a new world record while winning the Olympic 4x100m mixed medley relay gold, surpassing both China and Australia. The team consisting of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske finished in 3min 37.43sec, narrowly eclipsing the mark established by Great Britain at the Tokyo Games when the event was first included in the Olympic lineup.

Bobby Finke breaks World Record in men’s freestyle 1500m

American endurance swimmer Bobby Finke shattered the world record for the men’s 1,500 metres freestyle as he retained the Olympic gold medal in a thrilling performance that positioned the United States atop the medal standings at the Paris pool with two events left.

China ends US dominance in men’s 4×100 medley relay

The United States’ 64-year undefeated streak in the men’s 4×100 metres medley concluded at the Paris Olympics as China achieved a historic victory. Amid roaring applause at the reconfigured rugby venue, the 100 metres freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle propelled China to victory with an extraordinary swim, joined by Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, and Sun Jiajun, who finished in a time of three minutes, 27.46 seconds.

August

Great Britain’s swimming head coach Furniss announces retirement

British swimming’s most accomplished head coach Bill Furniss declared his retirement after overseeing his fourth Olympic Games, Aquatics GB stated in a release. Under his leadership, Britain secured 19 medals, including maintaining the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay title in Paris last month. Britain concluded ninth in the swimming medals table in Paris, earning one gold and four silvers, having celebrated their finest swimming performance in Tokyo with four gold medals.

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang wins on return from doping suspension

Disgraced three-time Olympic champion Sun Yang has claimed his first title in the pool following a four-year doping suspension. The Chinese freestyler was initially banned for eight years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2020 for breaking vials of blood during a 2018 test, a situation he still contests.

September

Australia dismisses coach Michael Palfrey for supporting South Korean rival swimmer

Swimming Australia (SA) has terminated coach Michael Palfrey after he sparked a media uproar at the Paris 2024 Olympics by expressing his hope for a South Korean athlete to defeat Australian competitors during the Games.

Paralympics Swimming World Records:

Here is the list of swimming world records established at the 2024 Paris Paralympics:

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S4

New WR: Sebastian Massabie (CAN) – 35.61s

Old WR: Ami Omer Dadaon (ISR) – 36.25s (Funchal, 2022)

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S5

New WR: Guo Jincheng (CHN) – 29.33s

Old WR: Guo Jincheng (CHN) – 29.78s (Manchester, 2023)

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S7

New WR: Andrii Trusov (UKR) – 26.38s

Old WR: Andrii Trusov (UKR) – 27.07s (London, 2019)

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S9

New WR: Simone Barlaam (ITA) – 23.90s

Old WR: Simone Barlaam (ITA) – 23.96s (Manchester, 2023)

Men’s 200m Freestyle – S14

New WR: William Ellard (GBR) – 1:51.30s

Old WR: Reece Dunn (GBR) – 1:52.40s (Tokyo, 2021)

Men’s 100m Backstroke – S11

New WR: Mykhailo Serbin (UKR) – 1:05.84s

Old WR: Mykhailo Serbin (UKR) – 1:06.01s (Manchester, 2023)

Men’s 100m Backstroke – S12

New WR: Stephen Clegg (GBR) – 59.02s

Old WR: Aleksandr Nevolin-Svetov (RUS) – 59.35s (London, 2012)

Men’s 100m Backstroke – S14

New WR: Benjamin Hance (AUS) – 56.52s

Old WR: Benjamin Hance (AUS) – 56.88s (Brisbane, 2021)

Men’s 100m Breaststroke – SB13

New WR: Taliso Engel (GER) – 1:01.84s

Old WR: Taliso Engel (GER) – 1:02.22s (Funchal, 2024)

Men’s 50m Butterfly – S5

New WR: Guo Jincheng (CHN) – 30.28s

Old WR: Zheng Tao (CHN) – 30.62s (Tokyo, 2021)

Men’s 150m Individual Medley – SM2

New WR: Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo (BRA) – 3:15.06s

Old WR: Gabriel Geraldo dos Santos Araujo (BRA) – 3:23.83s (Sheffield, 2023)

Men’s 200m Individual Medley – SM6

New WR: Yang Hong (CHN) – 2:37.31s

Old WR: Yang Hong (CHN) – 2:37.53s (Hangzhou, 2023)

Men’s 200m Individual Medley – SM13

New WR: Ihar Boki (NPA) – 2:02.03s

Old WR: Ihar Boki (Belarus) – 2:02.70s (Tokyo, 2021)

Women’s 50m Freestyle – S3

New WR: Leanne Smith (USA) – 40.03s

Old WR: Arjola Trimi (ITA) – 40.32s (Tokyo, 2021), Leanne Smith – 40.32s (Funchal, 2022)

Women’s 50m Freestyle – S9

New WR: Christie Raleigh-Crossley (USA) – 27.28s

Old WR: Sophie Pascoe (NZL) – 27.32s (Auckland, 2019)

Women’s 50m Freestyle – S10

New WR: Chen Yi (CHN) – 27.10s

Old WR: Aurelie Rivard (CAN) – 27.37s (Rio de Janeiro, 2016)

Women’s 50m Freestyle – S11

New WR: Ma Jia (CHN) – 28.96s

Old WR: Ma Jia (CHN) – 29.20s (Tokyo, 2021)

Women’s 100m Freestyle – S6

New WR: Jiang Yuyan (CHN) – 1:09.68s

Old WR: Jiang Yuyan (CHN) – 1:10.86s (Manchester, 2023)

Women’s 100m Freestyle – S9

New WR: Alexa Leary (AUS) – 59.53s

Old WR: Alexa
“`Leary (AUS) – 59.60s (Paris, 2024)

Women’s 100m Freestyle – S11

New WR: Daria Lukianenko (NPA) – 1:04.88s

Previous WR: Liesette Bruinsma (NED) – 1:05.14s (Dublin, 2018)

Women’s 100m Backstroke – S6

New WR: Jiang Yuyan (CHN) – 1:19.44s

Previous WR: Ellie Marks (USA) – 1:19.57s (Tokyo, 2021)

Women’s 100m Breaststroke – SB7

New WR: Mariia Pavlova (NPA) – 1:26.09s

Previous WR: Mariia Pavlova (NPA) – 1:26.86s (Limoges, 2024)

Women’s 100m Breaststroke – SB12

New WR: Elena Krawzow (GER) – 1:12.54s

Previous WR: Elena Krawzow (GER) – 1:12.71s (Berlin, 2019)

Women’s 50m Butterfly – S5

New WR: Lu Dong (CHN) – 38.17s

Previous WR: He Shenggao (CHN) – 39.32s (Hangzhou, 2023)

Women’s 100m Butterfly – S14

New WR: Poppy Maskill (GBR) – 1:03.00s

Previous WR: Olivia Newman-Baronius (GBR) – 1:03.33s (London, 2024), Valeriia Shabalina (RUS) – 1:03.33s (Sotchi, 2022)

Women’s 200m Individual Medley – SM11

New WR: Daria Lukianenko (NPA) – 2:37.77s

Previous WR: Daria Lukianenko (NPA) – 2:38.47s (Funchal, 2024)

Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay – 34 Points

New WR: Italy (Stefano Raimondi, Giulia Terzi, Xenia Francesca Palazzo, Simone Barlaam) – 4:01.54s

Previous WR: Italy – 4:02.53s (Funchal, 2022)

Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay – 20 Points

New WR: China (Peng Qiuping, Yuan Weiyi, Jiang Yuyan, Guo Jincheng) – 2:14.98s

Previous WR: China – 2:15.49s (Tokyo, 2021)

Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay – 20 Points

New WR: China (Lu Dong, Zhang Li, Wang Lichao, Guo Jincheng) – 2:24.83s

Previous WR: China – 2:27.45s (Manchester, 2023)

National Aquatic Championships 2024: Hashika Ramachandra sets new record in 400m

Hashika Ramachandra set a New National Record in the Women’s 400m Freestyle category during the 77th Senior National Aquatic Championships 2024 held at the International Aquatic Complex in Yemmekere, Mangaluru. The Karnataka swimmer surpassed the 13-year-old record previously established by Richa Mishra (4:25.76) from Ranchi by finishing in 4:24.70.

November

World Aquatics inaugurates interim office in Budapest

World Aquatics achieved a significant milestone in its transition from the Olympic hub of Lausanne by launching an interim office in Hungary’s capital, Budapest. The global governing body for swimming intends to finalize its relocation by 2027, coinciding with the World Aquatics Championships, which Budapest is set to host.

Australia’s most celebrated Olympian Emma McKeon announces retirement from swimming

Swimmer Emma McKeon, recognized as Australia’s most celebrated Olympian and an eight-time world-record holder, announced her retirement from the sport at age 30. McKeon garnered 14 Olympic medals, including six gold, across the Rio, Tokyo, and this summer’s Paris Games.

December

Australia’s head swimming coach Rohan Taylor reappointed through 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Australia’s head swimming coach, Rohan Taylor, was reconfirmed in his role to lead the nation’s elite team to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Taylor played a crucial role in steering Australia to an unprecedented nine gold medals and 21 total medals at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics, ranking second only to the United States.