Swimming in Swimming World Championships |  | ||||
| 2024 |  | KOR | Hwang Sunwoo | |
| 2023 |  | GBR | Matthew Richards | |
| 2022 |  | ROU | David Popovici | |
| 2019 |  | CHN | Sun Yang | |
| 2017 | | CHN | Sun Yang | |
| 2015 | | GBR | James Guy | |
| 2013 |  | FRA | Yannick Agnel | |
| 2011 |  | USA | Ryan Lochte | |
| 2009 |  | GER | Paul Biedermann | |
| 2007 | | USA | Michael Phelps | |
| 2005 | | USA | Michael Phelps | |
| 2003 |  | AUS | Ian Thorpe | |
| 2001 | | AUS | Ian Thorpe | |
| 1998 | | AUS | Michael Klim | |
| 1994 |  | FIN | Antti Kasvio | |
| 1991 |  | ITA | Giorgio Lamberti | |
| 1986 |  | FRG | Michael Gross | |
| 1982 | | FRG | Michael Gross | |
| 1978 | | USA | William Forrester | |
| 1975 | | USA | Tim Shaw | |
| 1973 | | USA | Jim Montgomery | |