Tokyo Olympics 2021: The Top Swimmers to Watch Out for in This Year’s Olympics

As the 2021 Olympics is all set to begin, swimming is one of the most anticipated events in the games. Despite Michael Phelps not returning for a last roll of the dice, many swimmers are aiming to win medals, and break records in Tokyo.

The swimming competitions start on July 24th and it is one of the most-watched events in the Olympics. Even though Phelps will not take part in Tokyo, several swimmers are competing in the games to showcase their talents.

The top swimmers will compete against each other to take home the gold. Let’s look at the top swimmers to watch out for Tokyo Olympics 2021.

BEIJING – AUGUST 11: Michael Phelps of the United States celebrates finishing the Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final in first place to win the gold medal held at the National Aquatics Center on Day 3 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 11, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Top swimmers in Tokyo Olympics 2021

Caeleb Dressel

Ever since Michael Phelps retired, Dressel has been the best male swimmer in the world. The Florida-based swimmer will don a new swimsuit of Speedo’s Fastskin collection in Tokyo.

Dressel came into the limelight after winning seven gold medals in the 2017 World Championships in Budapest; in addition, won six gold medals and two silver medals in South Korea World Championships in 2019.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 20: Caeleb Dressel of the United States reacts after competing in the Men’s 50m freestyle final during Day Eight of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 20, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The two-time Olympic gold medallist also holds the world records for 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter freestyle. The swimmer will compete in seven events, and looks to match Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals.

Although Phelps has won eight gold medals in Beijing, Dressel aims to equal Spitz’s record, which would cement his legacy amongst the other greats in swimming.

Katie Ledecky

The Rio Olympics showcased one of the greatest swimmers to swim in Katie Ledecky. Having shocked the world in the 2012 London Olympics by winning a gold medal when being only 15 years old, Ledecky added four more gold medals in the 2016 Rio which cemented her legacy as one of the best swimmers on the planet.

Fast forward five years, the swimming fraternity expects Ledecky to repeat the feat. If Katie wins another gold in the 800-meter freestyle, she will join Michael Phelps and three other swimmers to achieve the feat in three consecutive Olympic games.

As the 1500 meter freestyle is all set to debut in Tokyo 2021, fans expect her to win the event with a certain ease. Despite being 24 years old, Ledecky will look to cement her place amongst the top swimmers in the sport’s history. Her world records in 400, 800, and 1500 meter freestyle exhibits her dominance in these events.

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Best of the rest in Tokyo 2021

 Adam Peaty

The only swimmer to win four gold medals in four different recognized international swimming events, Adam Peaty is a legend of the sport.

The breaststroke specialist is once again the favorite to win the 50 and 100-meter breaststroke events in Tokyo. The current world record holder in the aforementioned events, Peaty, will look to win the newly inducted 50-meter freestyle event along with other events to add to his illustrious career.

By winning the gold medal in Rio, Adam has placed himself amongst the greats of the sport and looks to win again in Tokyo. A dominant performance in Tokyo would guarantee his name as one of the best swimmers in Britain’s history.

Daiya Seto

The swimmer from Japan will hope to win another Olympic medal to add to his growing career. Ever since Daiya Seto came into the limelight in Rio, the Asian swimmer was the poster boy of Japan. But because of the ongoing pandemic, the games got postponed to 2021, and Seto will appear at the Tokyo Olympics.

Moreover, Seto holds the world records in the 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley (short course) while also being the first Asian to be a world champion in the individual medley.

In front of his home crowd, Daiya hopes to win the gold medal for these events to etch his name into the history books.

 Simone Manuel

The Rio Olympics had its fair share of memorable moments and one event which comes into people’s minds was the women’s 100-meter freestyle event.

Along with Penny Oleksiak, Simone Manuel won the gold medal in an unprecedented tie, in the swimming event. In context, she became the first African-American woman to win an individual gold in swimming.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 11: Simone Manuel of the United States celebrates winning gold in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Final on Day 6 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Despite suffering from depression and over-training syndrome, Manuel is heading to Tokyo to compete in the 50-meter freestyle event.

She will look to win her second consecutive Olympic gold in the event which will make her one of the best swimmers in US history.

By holding three world records with the relay team, Manuel looks to repeat her feat in Tokyo to stake her place amongst the greats.

An honorable mention goes to Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden. She looks to repeat her Rio feat by winning the 100-meter butterfly event.

TOPSHOT – Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom poses on the podium with her gold medal after she won the Women’s 100m Butterfly Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. / AFP / Martin BUREAU (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP via Getty Images)

As the Tokyo Olympics is all set to start, swimmers from all around the world will look to showcase their talents on the grandest stage of them all. The Olympics is back as the aforementioned swimmers look to take home the grand prize.

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