Swimming has been a sport in the Olympic Games since the first modern Olympics in 1896, making it one of only four sports to appear in every summer Olympics since this year. Until 1912, swimming in the Olympics was a male only event, and took place in open waters until the 1908 London Games.
Australia has had athletes in every summer Olympics since 1900, winning a total of 58 gold medals, second only to the United States who have 217 golds in swimming. It is unarguably one of the most popular Olympic sports in the world, with more than 32.7 million viewers tuning into the swimming coverage during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
But when is the swimming on for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021? Check the schedule below to find out, as well as recap of Australia’s swimming team. How many golds will we take home this year?
How to Watch the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games in Australia
With Channel 7 holding the exclusive broadcasting rights in Australia for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, live coverage is available on 7Mate and 7Two. If you can’t watch the Olympics live, you can watch your favourite events on-demand with 7plus.
When is swimming on in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games?
Saturday, 24 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:30pm (AEST)
- Men’s 400m Individual Medley (Heats)
- Women’s 100m Butterfly (Heats)
- Men’s 400m Freestyle (Heats)
- Women’s 400m Individual Medley (Heats)
- Men’s 100m Breaststroke (Heats)
- Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay (Heats)
Sunday, 25 July 2021 — 11:30am–1:20pm (AEST)
- Men’s 400m Individual Medley Final
- Women’s 100m Butterfly Semifinals
- Men’s 400m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 400m Individual Medley Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 400m Individual Medley Final
- Men’s 400m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 100m Breaststroke Semifinals
- Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final
- Women’s 400m Individual Medley Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Victory Ceremony
Sunday, 25 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:30pm (AEST)
- Women’s 100m Backstroke (Heats)
- Men’s 200m Freestyle (Heats)
- Women’s 100m Breaststroke (Heats)
- Men’s 100m Backstroke (Heats)
- Women’s 400m Freestyle (Heats)
- Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay (Heats)
Monday, 26 July 2021 — 11:30am–12:40pm (AEST)
- Women’s 100m Butterfly Final
- Men’s 200m Freestyle Semifinals
- Women’s 100m Breaststroke Semifinals
- Women’s 100m Butterfly Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final
- Women’s 400m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals
- Men’s 100m Breaststroke Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals
- Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final
- Women’s 400m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Victory Ceremony
Monday, 26 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:30pm (AEST)
- Women’s 200m Freestyle (Heats)
- Men’s 200m Butterfly (Heats)
- Women’s 200m Individual Medley (Heats)
- Women’s 1500m Freestyle (Heats)
Tuesday, 27 July 2021 —10:30am–12:25pm (AEST)
- Women’s 200m Freestyle Semifinals
- Men’s 200m Freestyle Final
- Women’s 100m Backstroke Final
- Men’s 100m Backstroke Final
- Men’s 200m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final
- Women’s 100m Backstroke Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals
- Men’s 100m Backstroke Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinals
- Women’s 100m Breaststroke Victory Ceremony
Tuesday, 27 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:00pm (AEST)
- Men’s 100m Freestyle (Heats)
- Women’s 200m Butterfly (Heats)
- Men’s 200m Breaststroke (Heats)
- Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay (Heats)
- Men’s 800m Freestyle (Heats)
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 — 11:30am–2:30pm (AEST)
- Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals
- Women’s 200m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 200m Butterfly Final
- Women’s 200m Butterfly Semifinals
- Women’s 200m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
- Men’s 200m Butterfly Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 200m Individual Medley Final
- Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final
- Women’s 200m Individual Medley Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final
- Women’s 1500m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
Wednesday, 28 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:30pm (AEST)
- Women’s 100m Freestyle (Heats)
- Men’s 200m Backstroke (Heats)
- Women’s 200m Breaststroke (Heats)
- Men’s 200m Individual Medley (Heats)
- Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay (Heats)
Thursday, 29 July 2021 — 11:30am–2:10pm (AEST)
- Men’s 800m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final
- Women’s 100m Freestyle Semifinals
- Men’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals
- Men’s 800m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 200m Butterfly Final
- Men’s 100m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 200m Breaststroke Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
- Men’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinals
- Women’s 200m Butterfly Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final
- Men’s 100m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Victory Ceremony
Thursday, 29 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:30pm (AEST)
- Women’s 800m Freestyle (Heats)
- Men’s 100m Butterfly (Heats)
- Women’s 200m Backstroke (Heats)
- Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay (Heats)
Friday, 30 July 2021 — 10:30am–12:10pm (AEST)
- Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinals
- Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final
- Men’s 200m Backstroke Final
- Women’s 100m Freestyle Final
- Women’s 200m Breaststroke Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final
- Men’s 200m Backstroke Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals
- Women’s 100m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 200m Individual Medley Victory Ceremony
Friday, 30 July 2021 — 8:00pm–10:30pm (AEST)
- Men’s 50m Freestyle (Heats)
- Women’s 50m Freestyle (Heats)
- Men’s 1500m Freestyle (Heats)
- Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay (Heats)
- Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay (Heat)
Saturday, 31 July 2021 — 10:30am–12:30pm (AEST)
- Men’s 100m Butterfly Final
- Women’s 200m Backstroke Final
- Women’s 800m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 100m Butterfly Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 50m Freestyle Semifinals
- Women’s 200m Backstroke Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 50m Freestyle Semifinals
- Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final
- Women’s 800m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Mixed 4 x 100m Medley Relay Victory Ceremony
Sunday, 1 August 2021 — 10:30am–12:25pm (AEST)
- Men’s 50m Freestyle Final
- Women’s 50m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final
- Men’s 50m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final
- Women’s 50m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final
- Men’s 1500m Freestyle Victory Ceremony
- Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Victory Ceremony
- Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Victory Ceremony
The 2020/2021 Australian Swimming Team
Abbey Harkin
Abbey Harkin is making her first Olympic appearance, competing in the 200m breaststroke. She made her debut in 2018 at the World Short-Course Championships in China, taking home the bronze medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Alexander Graham
Alexander Graham joins the Australian Olympic Swimming Team from Bond University, having already won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 2019, he competed in his first World Championship in Gwagju, walking away with three podium finishes and a new Commonwealth record.
Ariarne Titmus
While making her debut in Olympic swimming, Ariarne Titmus has made a name for herself in the 2017 World Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 World Short Course Swimming Championships and Pan Pacific Championships. Ariarne has been named one to watch after swimming a time of 1:53:09 in the 200m freestyle and 3:56:09 in the 400m freestyle at the Australian Olympic trials.
Brendon Smith
Brendon Smith is debuting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after scoring a new national record at the 2021 Olympic trials. He will be competing in the 400m individual medley, which Australia hasn’t won an Olympic Medal for since 1984. However, having broken two records in the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships and winning 5 medals, we have high hopes for this athlete.
Brianna Throssell
Brianna Throssell is no stranger to the Olympic Games, having competed in Rio in 2016, after having won a silver medal at the 2016 Australian National Championships. While Brianna finished eighth in the Olympic final, she went on to win a bronze in the 200m butterfly and gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Bronte Campbell
With two Olympics under her belt and a gold medal from the Rio Olympic Games, Bronte Campbell is one to watch. Bronte was part of the world record-breaking relay team with Emma McKeon, Brittany Elmslie and Cate Campbell (Bronte’s sister) at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. This year, she will be competing in the Freestyle swimming event.
Cameron McEvoy
Having grown up on the Gold Coast, watching swimming legends like Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe hone their technique, it’s no surprise Cameron McEvoy is already a 2 x Bronze Olympic Medalist. Cameron has already competed at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio games, returning in 2021 in the 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m medley and 4x200m freestyle.
Cate Campbell
Cate Campbell returns to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, having already won 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. This star athlete had won her first two bronze medals at the Beijing at only 16 years of age, followed by a gold in the London 2021 games, and again at Rio in 2016.
Chelsea Hodges
Hailing from Biloela in regional Queensland, Chelsea Hodges has been swimming since the age of 6, making her Olympics debut at the age of 20 in the Tokyo 2020 games in 2021. In early 2021, Chelsea made her mark with her first national titles at the 2021 Australian Open Championships, so she may very well be on a roll in Tokyo.
David Morgan
David Morgan is a Welshman-turned-Australian, returning for his second Olympic Games, following winning a bronze in the 4x100m relay with Mitch Larkin, Kyle Chalmers and Jake Packard at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He was also part of the Australian team who set a new Commonwealth Games record for the 4x100m medley relay.
Elijah Winnington
By age 18, Elijah Winnington had already earned 26 National Age Championship gold medals and was named captain of the 2016 Junior Australian Team in 2016. Elijah will be competing in the men’s swimming 200m and 400m freestyle representing Australia.
Emily Seebohm
At age 29, the Tokyo 2020 games will be Emily Seebohm’s fourth Olympic Games, where she will hopefully add to her 2 gold and 3 silver medals. This already celebrated Olympic champion will be representing Australia in the women’s swimming 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley.
Emma McKeon
Emma McKeon returns to the Olympic pool in 2021 after winning a whopping 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Games. In her debut international debut at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Emma also took home four gold and two bronze medals. With a father, mother and brothers who are also Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimming champions, you could say it runs in the family.
Isaac Cooper
While only 17, Isaac Cooper has set a new Queensland Age Record, Queensland All Comers Record and Australian Age Record. The 2020 Tokyo games will be his debut Olympic event, but there are high hopes as he has the third fastest all-time Australian men’s backstroke, only sitting behind national record holder Ben Treffers and Mitch Larkin.
Jack McLoughlin
Jack McLoughlin returns to the Olympic Games following his stint at the 2016 Rio Games, where he took home a gold and silver medal in the men’s 1500m freestyle and 500m freestyle. He also took home a gold and a bronze at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, with hopes of adding some Olympic medals to his collection.
Jenna Strauch
Unlike many other Olympians who start swimming in primary school, Jenna Strauch only began swimming at the age of 12, before being selected for the 2013 World Junior Championships. Now only 24, Jenna joins the Australian Swim Team in the 200m breaststroke.
Jessica Hansen
In her very first world championship swim in 2017, Jessica Hansen took out the bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay, before taking home a gold and silver the following year at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships. She will be entering her first ever Olympic Games in the 100m breaststroke.
Kai Edwards
While 22-year-old Kai Edwards grew up on the Gold Coast beaches, he didn’t break into the championship arena until 2016. He has since competed in the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships in the Netherlands, Hong Kong FINA Water World Cup, FINA Marathon Swim World Series in Chun An, China, FINA’s Marathon World Series in Doha and Seychelles and the World Championships.
Kareena Lee
Kareena Lee is representing Australia in the Marathon Swimming Event, bringing with her a rough history that has taught this athlete absolute perseverance. After being pulled from the water in the 2015 World Aquatic Championships after collapsing, Kareena was hospitalised for a combination of asthma, hypothermia and a facial injury following the Women’s 10km Open Water Race. However, while she was guaranteed an Olympic qualification, she was unable to attend the Rio 2016. The Tokyo 2020 Games will be Kareena’s debut Olympic event.
Kaylee McKeown
At the age of 19, Kaylee McKeown’s accomplishments are near endless, having competed in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, World Championships, 2021 Sydney Open, now debuting in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Kaylee is coming off the back of breaking three national records at the 2021 Sydney Open with personal bests in the 200m, 100m and 50m backstroke.
Kiah Melverton
There are high hopes for gold Australian Open Water Swimming Championships winner, Kiah Melverton, at the 2021 Olympic Games. In the 2021 Olympic Trials, Kiah swam under the qualifying time, clicking a 15:57.14 finish, placing only second behind her training partner Maddy Gough.
Kyle Chalmers
Kyle Chalmers is returning to the Olympic Games arena, having won a gold and two bronze medals at the Rio 2016 Games. Hailing from South Australia, Kyle made a name for himself after winning a silver in the 4x100m medley heats at the 2015 World Championships, followed one week later by winning 7 medals at his first World Championships. It was here he also broke Cameron McEvoy’s 17-year national record in the 100m freestyle.
Leah Neale
Swimming fans may know Leah Neale as the first 15-year-old in Australia to ever go under 2:00 in the 200m freestyle. Leah is also no strange to winning medals, claiming at silver at the Australian Championships in 2014, a solver in her debut at the Rio Olympics, a bronze at the 2017 World Championships and a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games 4×200 relay.
Mackenzie Horton
Mackenzie ‘Mack’ Horton is back at the 2021 Olympic Games with the goal of following up his gold-medal win at his debut in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Since then, he has followed it up with both a silver and bronze at the 2017 World Championships, a gold, silver and bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a silver at the 2019 World Championships.
Madeleine Gough
Thanks to her record-breaking time in her 2021 Olympic Trials 1500 freestyle event, Madeleine Gough is ranked number 3 in the world leading into her debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The 1500m event seems to be her specialisation, following a personal best, finishing fifth, at the World Championships in South Korea.
Madison Wilson
From her first big appearance in 2012, Madison Wilson has been a clear winner. Qualifying for the Junior Pan Pacs in 2012, she went on a year later to win the 200m backstroke event at the 2013 University Games, a gold and a bronze at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, a gold and silver at the Rio Olympics and a gold at the World Championships in Gwangju, where she also set a new world record.
Matthew Temple
Making his debut in the 200m butterfly event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, Matthew Temple has his eyes on gold. In 2018, Matthew took home the gold at the 2018 Australian Age Championships, a win at the 2021 Australian Championships and snuck under the qualifying time for the Tokyo Games by a fleeting 0.01 seconds.
Matthew Wilson
Matthew Wilson enters the Olympics arena with a gold and bronze from the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as a gold and silver from the 2019 World Championships. He has been training at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in preparations for the Tokyo Games, making sure he’s one to watch.
Meg Harris
At 19, Meg Harris is an Olympic debutant, but is not new to taking home the gold. In 2017, Meg took home a gold at the Youth Commonwealth Games, followed by a double bronze and a silver at the 2019 Junior World Championships.
Mitchell Larkin
Mitchell Larkin has his eyes on gold having already scored one of the only three silver medals won by an Australian in the men’s 200m backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He also took home a bronze in the 4x100m medley relay.
Mollie O’Callaghan
Mollie O’Callaghan may only be 17, but has been swimming since she was 4 and competing since she was 7. In 2017, Mollie took out a silver in the Junior World Championships 4x100m freestyle relay, four gold medals at the 2020 Queensland State Titles and set a new Australian 16-year ago group record in the Queensland Short-Course Championships.
Se-Bom Lee
Gold is all Se-Bom Lee seems to see having taken out the top place in the 200m individual medley at the 2020 NSW State Open Championships and another in 3 different events at the Australian Age Swimming Championships. At only 20 years of age, there are eyes on this Olympics debutant.
Tamsin Cook
Tamsin Cook’s swimming career was nearly derailed after a car accident in 2017, but she is back having recorded her career best at the 2021 Olympic Trials. Prior, Tamsin has earned two gold and one silver medal at the 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships and a silver at the 2016 Rio Games.
Thomas Neill
Entering the Olympic arena as a five-medal winner of the 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships, all eyes will be on Thomas Neill in the 200m men’s freestyle. His success at the Australian Age Swimming Championships saw him go on to win two silvers and two bronzes in the 2019 World Junior Championships in Budapest. He also stood two podium finishes at the 2021 Australian National Championships, and a bronze at the 2021 Olympic Trials.
Tristan Hollard
Tristan Hollard may be a newer name to the international swim scene, but what a name he has made. In his international debut at the FINA World Cup in Singapore, Tristan took home a bronze and silver, followed by national titles at the 2021 Australian Swimming Championships.
Zac Incerti
Broome-born Olympic debutant Zac Incerti took home his first highlighted win at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a bronze. Now, he enters the Olympic swimming arena in the 200m freestyle, with his eyes set on the podium.
Zac Stubblety-Cook
Quite recently, Zac Stubblety-Cook set the second fasted record time for the men’s 200m breaststroke in history, making it a perfect entry into his debut at the 2021 Olympic Games. The event is his plan for gold, having already taken home a silver at the Pan Pacific Championships, and two national titles at the 2021 Australian Swimming National Championships.
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