Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is live
Doha 2030 coming up
Asian Games swimming Results, medal tally, records and schedule
Swimming has been part of the Asian Games since the first edition in New Delhi in 1951. Across 20 editions and 75 years, the pool has produced some of Asia’s biggest rivalries, fastest times and most dominant national programs. The current program has 41 events: 20 for men, 20 for women and one mixed relay.
Asian Games 2026, Aichi-Nagoya
Day 5 of 6 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, with 41 gold medals across six days of racing. China leads the swimming medal tally, and 13-year-old Yu Zidi has been the breakout star with records in the 200m IM and 400m IM.
Current and upcoming editions
All editions of Asian Games swimming
| Edition | Year | Host city | Top swimming nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| XX | 2026 | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan | In progress |
| XIX | 2022 | Hangzhou, China | CHNChina |
| XVIII | 2018 | Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia | JPNJapan |
| XVII | 2014 | Incheon, South Korea | CHNChina |
| XVI | 2010 | Guangzhou, China | CHNChina |
| XV | 2006 | Doha, Qatar | CHNChina |
| XIV | 2002 | Busan, South Korea | CHNChina |
| XIII | 1998 | Bangkok, Thailand | JPNJapan |
| XII | 1994 | Hiroshima, Japan | CHNChina |
| XI | 1990 | Beijing, China | CHNChina |
| X | 1986 | Seoul, South Korea | JPNJapan |
| IX | 1982 | New Delhi, India | JPNJapan |
| VIII | 1978 | Bangkok, Thailand | JPNJapan |
| VII | 1974 | Tehran, Iran | JPNJapan |
| VI | 1970 | Bangkok, Thailand | JPNJapan |
| V | 1966 | Bangkok, Thailand | JPNJapan |
| IV | 1962 | Jakarta, Indonesia | JPNJapan |
| III | 1958 | Tokyo, Japan | JPNJapan |
| II | 1954 | Manila, Philippines | JPNJapan |
| I | 1951 | New Delhi, India | SGPSingapore |
Top swimming nation = most swimming gold medals at that edition.
Dominant nations in Asian Games swimming
China
Took over at the 1990 Beijing Games and has topped the pool at nearly every edition since, including 28 of 41 golds at Hangzhou 2023. Current stars include Pan Zhanle, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and 13-year-old Yu Zidi, who has been breaking records at the 2026 Games.
Top nation: 1990 to present, except 1998 and 2018Japan
Controlled the pool from the 1950s through the 1980s, finishing top at nine straight editions from 1954 to 1986, then again in 1998 and 2018. Historically strong in backstroke, breaststroke and IM, from Kosuke Hagino to current star Yumeki Kojima.
Top nation: 1954 to 1986, 1998, 2018South Korea
Consistently Asia’s third strongest swimming nation. Produced Olympic champion Park Tae-hwan and current stars Hwang Sun-woo and Kim Youngbeom, who broke the Asian Games 50m free record in 2026.
Strong at every edition since 1986Singapore
Topped the swimming table at the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951, the only time a nation other than Japan or China has finished first. Joseph Schooling’s Olympic 100m butterfly gold in 2016 remains a landmark for Singapore swimming.
Best finish: 1st, 1951 New DelhiHong Kong
Led in recent editions by Siobhan Haughey, who won the women’s 200m freestyle at the 2026 Games. A regular medal contender in freestyle sprint events.
Rising force since 2018Kazakhstan
A regular medal threat in freestyle sprints and relays. Dmitriy Balandin’s Olympic 200m breaststroke gold in 2016 put Central Asian swimming on the map.
Regular medal threat since 1994Asian Games 2026 highlights
Full 2026 coverageThe biggest moments from the Tokyo Aquatics Centre so far.
Yu Zidi (CHN), 13: 200m IM and 400m IM
Second fastest women’s 200m IM in history, then the Asian Games 400m IM record, 0.13 off Ye Shiwen’s 2012 Asian record.
4:28.56 World junior recordYumeki Kojima (JPN), 17: 400m IM
Broke his own world junior record to win gold at home, with Matsushita taking silver for a Japanese 1-2.
Asian recordPeng Xuwei (CHN): 200m backstroke
Broke one of the oldest long course Asian records still standing while defending her Asian Games title.
Kim Youngbeom (KOR): 50m freestyle
Took the Asian Games record from countryman Ji Yuchan, who set it at Hangzhou 2023.
Siobhan Haughey (HKG): 200m freestyle
Another major title for Hong Kong’s most decorated swimmer.
China men’s 4x200m free relay
New Asian record, anchored by Zhang Zhanshuo in 1:42.92, the fastest relay split in Asian history.
1:42.92XXI Asian Games, Doha 2030
The 21st Asian Games go to Doha from November 4 to 19, 2030. Qatar hosted in 2006 and has recent aquatics experience from the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. Swimming venue and dates are still to be confirmed.
Big questions for Doha: can China stay on top, how fast will Yu Zidi be at 17, and can Japan build on its home Games?
Swimming events at the Asian Games
20 Men’s events
- Freestyle
- 50m100m200m400m800m1500m
- Backstroke
- 50m100m200m
- Breaststroke
- 50m100m200m
- Butterfly
- 50m100m200m
- Individual medley
- 200m400m
- Relays
- 4x100m free4x200m free4x100m medley
20 Women’s events
- Freestyle
- 50m100m200m400m800m1500m
- Backstroke
- 50m100m200m
- Breaststroke
- 50m100m200m
- Butterfly
- 50m100m200m
- Individual medley
- 200m400m
- Relays
- 4x100m free4x200m free4x100m medley
1 Mixed event
- Relay
- 4x100m medley
Highlighted: the 50m backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly are on the Asian Games program but not at the Olympics, giving Asian sprint specialists extra medal chances.
How to watch Asian Games swimming
Full 2026 viewing guideBroadcasters for Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
| Country or region | Broadcaster | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| USAUnited States | To be confirmed | – |
| GBRUnited Kingdom | To be confirmed | – |
| AUSAustralia | To be confirmed | – |
| SGPSingapore | To be confirmed | – |
| JPNJapan | NHK and local broadcasters | NHK, TVer |
| CHNChina | CMG (CCTV) | CCTV Sports, streaming |
| INDIndia | Sony Sports Network | SonyLIV |
| MENAMiddle East | beIN Sports | beIN Connect |
More on SwimHeats
Updated after every Asian Games
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