Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics
London 2012 swimming saw Phelps become the most decorated Olympian.
The swimming competitions at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London took place from 28 July to 4 August at the Aquatics Centre, with open-water events on 9–10 August in Hyde Park. The program featured 32 events (16 male, 16 female) in a 50 m long course pool. The United States led the medal table with 30 total medals, while Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 career medals after winning six more in London.
- dates
- 28 July – 4 August 2012 (pool); 9–10 August 2012 (open water)
- venue
- Aquatics Centre (pool); Hyde Park (open water)
- events
- 32 (16 men, 16 women)
- nations
- 166 nations, 631 athletes
- most_medals
- United States (30 total: 16 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze)
- most_individual_medals
- Michael Phelps (6 medals at these Games; 22 career: 18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
- records_set
- 9 world records, 25 Olympic records
Lore & Background
The United States maintained its supremacy in swimming, claiming 30 medals. Michael Phelps won six more medals, bringing his career total to 22 (18 golds, 2 silver, 2 bronze), making him the most decorated Olympian of all time. China mounted an unexpected second-place effort with 10 medals, including a superb double from Sun Yang in the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle and Ye Shiwen in the 200 m and 400 m individual medley. France finished third with seven medals, followed by the Netherlands with four (two golds from Ranomi Kromowidjojo in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle) and South Africa with three.
Reader's Guide
The 2012 swimming competition is significant for Michael Phelps's historic achievement of becoming the most decorated Olympian, a record that still stands. China's rise to second place marked a shift in global swimming power, with Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen winning multiple golds. The event also saw controversy: Ye Shiwen faced unproven doping allegations after her world-record swim, and South African Cameron van der Burgh admitted to illegal butterfly kicks during his world-record 100 m breaststroke win. Australia delivered its worst performance since 1992, winning only one gold (in a freestyle relay). Japan produced its most medals in the post-war era (11, all silver and bronze). A total of nine world records and 25 Olympic records were set. The competition format followed the 2008 pattern, with prelims in the morning and finals in the evening.
Did You Know?
- Michael Phelps won six medals at these Games, bringing his career total to 22 (18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
- China finished second in the medal table with 10 medals, including doubles by Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen.
- Derya Büyükuncu and Lars Frölander were the first swimmers to participate in six consecutive Olympic Games (1992–2012).
- Cameron van der Burgh admitted to three illegal butterfly kicks during his world-record 100 m breaststroke win.
More in Swimming at the Summer Olympics 1-24
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