Get ready for an exciting journey as we dive into SwimSwam's Top 100 Swimmers of 2026, focusing on the incredible women who are making waves globally! This list is our prediction of the top 100 swimmers to keep an eye on, and it's going to be a thrilling ride.
The World of Swimming in 2026: A Year of Scattered Glory
In non-Olympic years, the swimming world is a diverse and scattered landscape. With no single major meet to determine the champions, it's all about the times! This ranking system adds an extra layer of excitement and challenge.
Our Ranking Principles: A Balanced Approach
We've considered various factors to create this list, including trajectory, age, and performance over the last three years, with a focus on recent results. We also take into account anomalies and versatility, recognizing that a well-rounded swimmer can outrank a specialist. Competitive atmosphere plays a role too; a finalist in a highly competitive event might rank higher than a winner in a less contested one.
The Making of the List: A Collaborative Effort
Our process is a blend of data analysis and passionate debate. We massage the rankings, re-evaluate, and refine until we reach a consensus. It's a challenging task, especially with the opacity surrounding some swimmers' situations.
#100 - Katie Grimes: A Potential Top-Ranker in Need of a Comeback
Katie Grimes has the talent to be at the very top of this list, but her 2025 performance was disappointing. After silver medal wins in the women's 400 IM at major meets from 2022 to 2024, she was expected to continue her dominance. However, a move to Virginia last year seemed to affect her performance, with struggles at the NCAA Championships and a disappointing 6th place finish at the World Championships. She's determined to bounce back in 2026, and her selection for the United States Pan Pacs team is a sign of her potential.
#99 - Louise Hansson: Sweden's Top Swimmer Steps Up
In the absence of Sarah Sjöström, who took a year off to have a baby, Louise Hansson stepped up as Sweden's top swimmer in 2025. While she didn't make the finals at the World Championships, she bounced back at the SC Euros, winning bronze in the 100 fly and placing highly in other events. With the major meet this year being the European Championships, Hansson is poised to make a significant impact.
#98 - Barbora Seemanova: A Rising Star from the Czech Republic
Barbora Seemanova had a breakthrough year in 2025, ranking 61st in the SwimSwam Top-100. She qualified for the finals in the 200 freestyle at the Paris World Championships and finished 5th, just a tenth off her personal best. Most of her best times are recent, and she's a serious medal contender at this summer's European Championships in the 200 freestyle.
#97 - Erin Gallagher: South Africa's 50 Fly Sensation
The addition of stroke 50s to the Olympic lineup has brought swimmers like Erin Gallagher into the spotlight. She finished 8th in the 50 fly at the World Championships and her semifinal time ranked 4th overall. Gallagher is a solid medal threat in the 50 and 100 fly at the Commonwealth Games, and her improvement over the years makes her one to watch.
#96 - Rikako Ikee: Japan's Inspirational Comeback
After battling leukemia, Rikako Ikee made a remarkable return to swimming. At the 2025 World Championships, she finished 14th overall, just seven tenths off her personal best. Her prelims time was faster than her semifinal time at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a testament to her progress. At just 25, Ikee could potentially return to her 2018 form, making her a force to be reckoned with.
#95 - Amalie Smith: Great Britain's Rising Junior Star
Amalie Smith, who turned 16 in August, is the fastest European Junior swimmer ever in the SCM 400 IM. Her incredible improvement this year, dropping seconds in both the 200 and 400 IM, has positioned her as a serious medal contender at the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games, especially in the 400 IM.
#94 - McKenzie Siroky: An Unconventional Journey to the Top
McKenzie Siroky's swimming journey is unique. Originally committed to Division I Hockey, she continued swimming and broke records in the breaststroke events. She qualified for the Olympic Trials in 2024 and finished 7th in the 100 breaststroke. This summer, she made her first international team in the 50 breaststroke and is looking at huge improvements, having already qualified for the U.S. Pan Pacs team.
#93 - Moesha Johnson: Australia's Open Water Queen
Moesha Johnson is the undisputed queen of open water swimming, but she still races the distance events in the pool. At the 2025 World Championships, she swept the open water events and finished 6th in the 1500 freestyle. While she's not ranked as highly in pool swimming, she's a favorite in the open water 10k at Pan Pacs in 2026.
#92 - Minna Abraham: Hungary's 200 Freestyle Star
Minna Abraham is one of Europe's top 200 freestylers, and she finished 2025 tied for 17th in the world in the long course 200 freestyle. Her performance at the SC Euros is a better indicator of her 2026 form, and she's expected to focus on the long course Euros this summer.
#91 - Sienna Toohey: Australia's Rising Breaststroke Star
Sienna Toohey, just 16 years old, is making her mark on the world breaststroke rankings. She's also becoming a strong asset for the Australian relay team, which has been seeking breaststrokers. Toohey's personal best in the 100 breaststroke at the Australian Swimming Trials ended the year ranked 18th in the world, and her continued improvement is a sign of great things to come at Pan Pacs and the Commonwealth Games.
This list is a snapshot of the incredible talent in women's swimming, and we can't wait to see how these athletes perform in 2026! Who do you think will make the biggest impact this year? Let us know in the comments!
