Swimming at the 2001 World Aquatics Championships

2001 FINA
World Championships
Diving
Individual
1 mmenwomen
3 mmenwomen
10 mmenwomen
Synchronised
3 mmenwomen
10 mmenwomen
Open water swimming
5 kmmenwomen
10 kmmenwomen
25 kmmenwomen
Swimming
Freestyle
50 mmenwomen
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
400 mmenwomen
800 mmenwomen
1500 mmenwomen
Backstroke
50 mmenwomen
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
Breaststroke
50 mmenwomen
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
Butterfly
50 mmenwomen
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
Individual medley
200 mmenwomen
400 mmenwomen
Freestyle relay
4×100 mmenwomen
4×200 mmenwomen
Medley relay
4×100 mmenwomen
Synchronised swimming
Solowomen
Duetwomen
Teamwomen
Water polo
Tournamentmenwomen

The swimming events of the 2001 World Aquatics Championships were held in a temporary pool at Marine Messe in Fukuoka, Japan in July 2001. This edition of the championships featured 20 events for both men and women, including the introduction of a 50 m event in all strokes and equality in the distance freestyle events, with both men and women swimming both 800 and 1500 m.

The swimming event resulted in eight world records and Australia topping the medal tally with 13 golds, although the USA claimed 26 total medals to 19 for Australia. The men's FINA Trophy (top individual performers) was awarded to Australia's Ian Thorpe for his three individual wins and three world records. Inge de Bruijn (the Netherlands) won the women's FINA Trophy for three individual wins. Australia swept the men's relays and won two of three of the women's relays, although were subsequently disqualified in the women's 4×200 m freestyle for a post-race infraction – jumping into the pool before all teams had finished.[1]

The Seiko timing system used for the swimming events at the championships experienced some faults with the touch pads throughout the eight days of competition causing controversy amongst teams and media.[1]

  1. ^ a b In the Women's 4 × 200 m freestyle relay, the Australian team finished first but was disqualified for jumping into the pool in celebration before all teams finished the race. The US team finished second, but was disqualified for improper changeover. This was later blamed on the faulty touchpad. In accordance with the decision of the FINA Bureau (2001, Bangkok): "To avoid any reasonable doubt regarding the result of the Women's relay 4 × 200 m Freestyle Final of the 9th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka but without unfairly changing the official results of the race, the Bureau decided to grant a second set of gold medals to the USA team." The members of the USA team were: Natalie Coughlin, Diana Munz, Cristina Teuscher, Julie Hardt (7:58.13).
    Jean-Louis Meuret (2007), HistoFINA Volume IV – Tome IV[permanent dead link‍]. MEDALLISTS AND STATISTICS. Special FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (50 m.) Before Rome 2009.
    SWIMMING; Thorpe Wins; U.S. Relay Is Disqualified. New York Times (July 26, 2001)