What is the World Aquatics Swimmer of the Year award?
Each December World Aquatics names male and female Swimmers of the Year, together with athletes of the year in each of the other aquatic disciplines — diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, water polo and high diving — plus coach, newcomer and team honours.[1] [2]
How is it decided?
By the federation, on the season's results: world titles and medals at the World Aquatics Championships, world records, and performance across the World Cup circuit. Shortlists are published in each discipline before the winners are announced.[1] [3]
Who won in 2025?
Léon Marchand of France and Summer McIntosh of Canada were named 2025 Swimmers of the Year, each for the second year running; McIntosh finished the year with four world titles and three world records. In open water, Florian Wellbrock — who swept the 10 km, 5 km and 3 km knockout sprint at the Singapore world championships — and Moesha Johnson, who won the 5 km and 10 km double, took the discipline awards.[2] [4]
Why does it matter?
Because it is the world federation's own verdict, covering every event and every member federation in the sport, and because it is awarded discipline by discipline — so open water, artistic swimming, diving and water polo each produce a named world athlete of the year rather than being folded into a single pool-swimming award.[1] [2]
References
- World Aquatics — Awards. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — 2025 Swimmers of the Year: Marchand and McIntosh. Accessed August 2026.
- SwimSwam — World Aquatics names 2025 athletes of the year. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — Johnson and Wellbrock, open water athletes of the year 2025. Accessed August 2026.