The 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup came to an end last Saturday in Astana. These are the top 20 men’s performances according to the @SwimmingStats Performance Index (one performance per swimmer per event). Do you agree with the list?

The 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup came to an end yesterday in Astana. These are the top 20 women’s performances according to the @SwimmingStats Performance Index (one performance per swimmer per event). Do you agree with the list?

During the final day of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, world record holder Pieter Coetze won the men’s 50 backstroke in 22.36 (short course meters). His performance ranks as the eighth-fastest swim in history.

During the UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet in Charlottesville, Gretchen Walsh delivered another sensational performance, breaking her own world record in the women’s 50 freestyle. She touched the wall in a stunning 22.75, shaving 0.08 seconds off her previous world record.

During the second day of the UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet in Charlottesville, Gretchen Walsh won the women’s 100 butterfly in 53.04, the third-fastest time in history, trailing only her own two sub-53 performances from the 2024 World Short Course Championships.

On the final day of the 2026 Japanese Short Course Championships, Shin Ohashi won the men's 200 breast in a stunning 2:00.12. He shattered his own World Junior Record by 1.12 seconds and also broke the Asian record set by fellow Japanese swimmer Daiya Seto in 2022 by 0.23 seconds

On the second day of the 2026 Japanese Short Course Championships in Saga Prefecture, Tomoyuki Matsushita won the men's 400 IM in a stunning 3:54.33, surpassing the long-standing former world record of 3:54.81 set by fellow Japanese Olympic medalist Daiya Seto in 2019.

During the third day of the second stop of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Pieter Coetze won the men’s 100 backstroke in 48.21, setting a new African record and finishing just 0.05 seconds shy of the world record set by Hubert Kos last year.

During the third day of the second stop of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Egor Kornev obliterated the men’s 50 butterfly world record in a stunning 21.28. He was 0.04 seconds faster than Noè Ponti’s previous mark from 2024.

World champion Pieter Coetze delivered a stunning performance on the second day of the second stop of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, winning the men’s 50 backstroke in 22.09 (short course meters).

During the opening day of the second stop of the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Cameron McEvoy won the men’s 50 freestyle in 20.13 (short course meters). Now he is the second-fastest performer of all time in the event.

These are the numbers of world records set at the World Aquatics World Cup in each season. In 2026, we’ve already seen one world record at the opening stop in Baku, courtesy of Egor Kornev in the men’s 100 freestyle. How many more will we see over the next two stops?

During the third day of the 2026 World Aquatics World Cup in Baku, Yu Yiting won the women’s 200 IM in 2:02.80 (short course meters). This is a new Asian record, 1.13 seconds faster than Yu Ohashi’s previous mark from 2020. Now she is the 6th fastest performer of all time.

During the third day of the 2026 World Aquatics World Cup in Baku, Egor Kornev won the men’s 50 butterfly in 21.64 (short course meters). This is a new Russian national record, 0.09 seconds faster than his previous mark. Now he is the 3rd fastest performer of all time.

During the second day of the 2026 World Aquatics World Cup in Baku, Egor Kornev won the men's 100 freestyle in 44.84 (short course meters). His time exactly matched the current World Record of 44.84 by Kyle Chalmers set during the 2021 World Cup. Congratulations!

During the opening day of the 2026 World Aquatics World Cup in Baku, Cameron McEvoy won the men's 50 freestyle in 20.22 (SCM). With the swim, McEvoy moved up to fourth on the all-time performers list in the event.

During the opening day of the 2026 Australian Short Course Championships, Sam Short won the men’s 800 freestyle in 7:25.55. With the performance, he moved up to third on the all-time performers list in the event.

The swimming portion of the 2026 Asian Games came to an end last Friday in Tokyo. These are the top 10 men’s performances of the meet according to the @SwimmingStats Performance Index (one performance per swimmer per event). Do you agree with the list?

Van Mathias has just been named Male Swimmer of the Year in the United States during the 22th Golden Goggle Awards in Denver. Mathias won five medals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships and broke three American records and one world record this year.

Kate Douglass has just been named Female Swimmer of the Year in the United States during the 22th Golden Goggle Awards. Douglass won six medals at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships and broke four world records this year, including an astonishing 23.19 in the 50 freestyle.