This past year of swimming has been extraordinary, with thrilling performances in major meets like the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and the Short Course World Championships, which saw 30 new world records. Featuring over a dozen male world records and groundbreaking swims, fans were treated to an unparalleled display of elite swimming. With the conclusion of the 2024 calendar year, the question remains: What was the single greatest individual swim by a male swimmer this past year?
To determine this, two major criteria must be considered. First is the analytical aspect. The World Aquatics Federation’s standardized points system ranks swims based on world records in both Short Course Meters (SCM: 25m) and Long Course Meters (LCM: 50m) formats. While not flawless, as discrepancies exist in the quality of records, this system provides a foundation for comparison. Second, the significance of the swim beyond the numbers must be considered, including the venue, the competitors, the margin of victory, and the story behind the performance. As a swimmer myself, I will also be taking into account my own emotions and reactions to each of these swims. Combining these factors, I will crown the king of all swims in 2024.
Here is a list of 5 standout swims by male swimmers, in no particular order:
When ranked by World Aquatics Points (WAP), the swims are as follows:
Here is a ranking of the swims based on their significance in my opinion:
Pan’s 46.40 swim in the Olympic final was a race for the ages, the kind that stays with you for decades. The 100-meter freestyle was already shaping up to be one of the most thrilling races of the Olympics, with icons like Kyle Chalmers and David Popovici on the blocks, but it was Pan who stole the show. After a nerve-wracking fight just to make it past the heats, he came back stronger than ever in the final. As the world watched, he not only claimed gold but shattered his own world record by 0.4 seconds — an electrifying finish that left many fans around the globe in awe. This race defined his career — it’s one that I and the rest of the world will remember him for.
When Jordan Crooks touched the wall in 19.90, breaking that elusive 20-second barrier in short course meters for the second time, it felt like he finally accomplished what he was almost meant to. This wasn’t just his second time dipping under 20m; it was also his second time swimming faster than sprint legend Caeleb Dressel. For Crooks, it was the kind of swim that didn’t just stop the clock — it cemented his place in my mind with the world’s elite.
Bobby Finke’s 14:30.67 in the 1500-meter freestyle was fast, but it was also a gutsy, pressure-packed masterpiece. With Team USA still searching for that elusive individual Olympic gold, all eyes were on Finke. And when it mattered most, he delivered. His signature closing speed on full display, he tore through the final 100 meters in a blistering 55.34. In that unforgettable stretch, he didn’t just win — he shattered Sun Yang’s twelve-year-old world record, etching his name into history.
Léon Marchand’s victory over world record holder Kristóf Milák in the 200-meter butterfly was the adrenaline-rushing race you’d expect from him. Fresh off a grueling win in the 200-meter breaststroke, Marchand had every reason to deliver a lackluster performance — but he didn’t. With the energy of a roaring French home crowd behind him, he found the strength to swim stroke for stroke with Milák, ultimately outlasting one of the sport’s greatest talents. This battle against Milák cemented him in my mind as a future GOAT (greatest of all time), doing the seemingly impossible at the world’s biggest sporting event at only 22.
Noè Ponti’s 21.32 in the 50-meter fly was incredible and certainly undeserving of a fifth-place spot, but that simply speaks to the level of swimming we saw this year. Taking 0.3 seconds off the previous mark, a massive margin in such a short race, he reminded everyone just how dangerous he is in short course meters. Sure, his domination in the format made this achievement feel somewhat inevitable, but dropping a time like that still turned heads. When it comes to speed and precision in the short pool, Ponti operates on another level.
Combining my observations with numerical data for each swim, I’ve reached my final conclusion. I name Crooks as the runner-up swim of 2024. Crooks’ world record represents a culmination of his potential. Talented but often falling short in important moments, Crooks delivered when it mattered most. He swam a nearly perfect race, one that might have outshone other performances in any other year. However, I feel that Pan Zhanle’s performance was better. Competing against a stacked field on the highest stage in swimming, Pan rose to the occasion and surpassed expectations. He dusted his competitors by over a body length, leaving spectators and myself in awe of his performance. Watching the race as a swimmer, too, everything from his technique to the power in the kick and the way he seemingly rode the waves felt immaculate. With this win, Pan not only secured his legacy but also elevated the sport to new heights. Pan’s Olympic gold-winning swim represents the pinnacle of male swimming in 2024. With the new year ahead, let’s look forward to another year of incredible races and record-breaking performances.
