Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics — swimming competitions at the 2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Olympic swimming program saw Michael Phelps become the most decorated Olympian ever, with nine world records set across 34 events.
Key Facts
- Total events
- 34 (17 male, 17 female)
- World records set
- 9
- Olympic records set
- 25
- US total medals
- 31 (16 gold, 9 silver, 6 bronze)
- Phelps career medal total
- 22 (18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze)
- Competition dates (pool)
- 28 July – 4 August 2012
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 2012 Summer Olympics in London provided the quadrennial stage for international swimming competition, drawing elite swimmers from across the world to compete in 34 events across pool and open-water disciplines at the newly constructed Aquatics Centre in Olympic Park and the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park.
Swimming competitions ran from 28 July to 10 August 2012, featuring 32 pool events in a 50 m long-course pool and two 10 km open-water marathons. The United States dominated with 31 medals, while China finished second and France third. Michael Phelps won six medals to extend his career total to 22, surpassing all previous Olympians in total medal count.
Nine world records and twenty-five Olympic records were broken, signaling continued improvement in elite swimming performance. Michael Phelps cemented his legacy as the greatest Olympic athlete by medals won. China's unexpectedly strong showing and Japan's highest post-war medal tally signaled growing competition for traditional swimming powers.
Result
at Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park / Hyde Park Serpentine Lake, London