Get ready for an exciting journey as we dive into SwimSwam's Top 100 Swimmers of 2026, focusing on the incredible women who are set to dominate the global swimming scene! 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 Year of Scattered Swimmers
In non-Olympic years, the swimming world spreads out, making it challenging to determine the best based solely on medals. This is where the rankings get interesting! Times become the ultimate judge, and it's a game-changer.
Ranking Principles Unveiled
Our rankings consider trajectory, age, performance over the last three years, anomalies, versatility, and competitive atmosphere. It's a delicate balance, and we've got a unique process to get it right.
We start with data, then debate, tweak, and refine until we reach a consensus. It's a collaborative effort, and we've excluded swimmers with uncertain futures and those whose status is unclear.
#100: Katie Grimes - The Comeback Story
Katie Grimes has the potential to soar, but her 2025 was a bit of a letdown. After silver medal success in the 400 IM from 2022 to 2024, she struggled in 2025. Moving to Virginia last year didn't seem to help, as she missed the top three at the NCAA Championships. She qualified for just one event at the World Championships, finishing 6th in the 400 IM. But she's determined to bounce back, and her selection for the US Pan Pacs team proves she's still a force to be reckoned with.
#99: Louise Hansson - Sweden's Rising Star
Louise Hansson stepped up in 2025, especially with Sarah Sjöström taking a break. She was a finalist threat in both the 50 and 100 fly at the World Championships but just missed out. She bounced back at SC Euros, winning bronze in the 100 fly and placing 5th and 7th in the 50 fly and 50 back, respectively. With the major meet this year being the European Championships, she's poised to make a significant impact.
#98: Barbora Seemanova - Czech Republic's Rising Star
Barbora Seemanova made a big jump in 2025, ranking 61st in our Top 100. She performed well at the 2024 European Championships and qualified for the 200 freestyle finals in Paris. She finished 5th in the 200 free at Worlds, just over a tenth off her personal best. 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 Worlds and tied for 4th overall with her semifinal time. She's a solid medal threat in the 50 and 100 fly at Commonwealth, especially if she continues her impressive progress.
#96: Rikako Ikee - Japan's Inspiring Comeback
After battling leukemia, Rikako Ikee is making a remarkable comeback. She finished 14th overall in the 100 fly at the 2025 World Championships, and her prelims time was faster than her semifinal time at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She's only 25, and there's a chance she could return to her 2018 form.
#95: Amalie Smith - Great Britain's Rising Junior
Amalie Smith, just 16, is our first junior swimmer on the list. She broke the European Junior benchmark in the SCM 400 IM and won silver medals in both the 200 and 400 IM at the World Junior Championships. Her improvement this year has been incredible, and she's a serious medal contender at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, especially in the 400 IM.
#94: McKenzie Siroky - USA's Unconventional Swimmer
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 and then finished 7th in the 100 breaststroke. This summer, she qualified for her first international team in the 50 breaststroke. She's looking at some huge improvements this year, and she's already on the US Pan Pacs team.
#93: Moesha Johnson - Australia's Open Water Queen
Moesha Johnson is the undisputed number one in open water swimming, but this list focuses on pool swimming. She still races the distance events in the pool and finished 6th in the 1500 at Worlds. She's likely to race the distance events at Pan Pacs in 2026 and is the favorite in the open water 10k.
#92: Minna Abraham - Hungary's 200 Free Specialist
Minna Abraham is one of Europe's top 200 freestylers and finished tied for 17th in the world in the long course 200 freestyle at the U23 European Championships. She had a strong performance at the 2025 SC Euros, winning silver in the 200 free and setting personal bests. She's expected to focus on the long course Euros this summer.
#91: Sienna Toohey - Australia's Rising Breaststroker
Sienna Toohey is our second junior swimmer on the list, and she's making waves in the breaststroke rankings. She made her senior international debut at the 2025 World Championships, finishing 22nd in the 100 breast and 13th in the 50 breast. Her time in the 100 breast ended the year ranked 18th in the world, and she's showing consistent improvement.
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 a splash this year? Let's discuss in the comments!
