Top 10 Swimmers of the 2008 Olympics

10. Katie Hoff(19)- USA{1 Silver, 2 Bronze}: 6 Time World Champion and competed at the 2004 Olympics at 15.

Many people believed that Katie was a disappointment at the Olympics after being compared to Michael Phelps since they both come from the town of Baltimore but what some people don’t realize is that compared to her past times she did a very good job and broke multiple world records.

9. Rebecca Adlington(20)- Great Britain{2 Gold}: One World Record, One time World Champion, and 2008 European Swimmer of the year.

This British Long distance swimmer had a great Olympics after wining the 400m freestyle she went on to take over five seconds off the 800m freestyle time and break a six month old World Record set by Janet Evans. 

8. Britta Steffen(25)-{2 Gold}: 7 German Records, Three Time Olympic medalist, and Former World Record Holder.

Another European swimmer that had a great Olympic games first. She set an Olympic record in the 100m Freestyle then she went on to win the 50m Freestyle by .01 of a second. 

7. Rebecca Soni(22)-USA{1 Gold, 2 Silver}: One World Record and is Only 22. 

This American swimmer is personally one of my idols she came in 2nd in the 100m Breaststroke after losing by over a second and a half she was by far the underdog of the 200m Breaststroke but she swam her hardest and broke her first individual World Record and dominated the 200m Breaststroke by almost two seconds.

6. Kosuke Kitajima(26)-Japan{2 Gold, 1 Bronze}: Two World Records, Six Time Olympic Medalist, and Four time World Champion.

Not one of my favorite swimmers of all time if you ever watch him swim he can display bad sportsmanship, but, nonetheless, he still is an amazing Breaststroker and he was the first to introduce a new type of pullout for Breaststroke. 

5. Kristy Conventry(25)-Zimbabwe{1 Gold, 3 Silver}: One Wold Record, Seven Time Olympic medalist, and six time World Champion.

This woman is truly one of my idols she may have been born in Zimbabwe but she had American citizenship and could have easily competed for America and won many more medals in relays, but this selfless woman couldn’t bare the fact of not representing her country that has so little and as she says has taught her so much.

4. Dara Torres(41!)-USA{3 Silver}: Competed in Five Olympics, Four time Olympic gold medalist, and 12 time Olympic medalist.

Another one of my swimming idols and not only because she is defying all odds and swimming at the amazing age of 41 but because she didn’t let her career stop her from having children and she is supportive of other moms staying shape and realizing that age is really just a number.

3. Ryan Lochte(24)-USA{2 Gold, 2 Bronze}:Three World Records, Three Time Olympic Gold Medalist, and eleven time World Champion.

People always say if it weren’t for Phelps, Lochte would be given a lot more credit than he is given but I don’t completely agree with that statement because I believe that Phelps has given Lochte even more attention because he directed the Worlds attention towards America in swimming.

2. Stephanie Rice(20)- Australia{3 Gold}: Three World Records and Three Time Olympic Champion.

The Greatest Female Olympian at the 2008 Olympics and not only that but she has only been competing professionally for 2 years.

1. Michael Phelps(23)-USA{8 Gold}: 14 time Olympic Champion, Eight World Records, 16 time Olympic medalist,and 18 time World Champion.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. In my opinion,  he is by far the greatest Olympian there ever was and ever will be wether he competes in London or not.

Some great swimmers that competed at the 2008 Olympics that were left out of my top 10: Jason Lezak, Alain Bernard, Cesar Cielo, Park Tae-Hwan, Aaron Peirsol, Hugues Duboscq, Laszlo Cseh,  Amaury Leveaux, Eamon Sullivan, Matt Grevers, Lisabeth Trickett, Liu Zige, Julia Smit, and Leisel Jones.