Swimming in Swimming World Championships |  | ||||
| 2024 |  | CAN | Finlay Knox | |
| 2023 |  | FRA | Leon Marchand | |
| 2022 | | FRA | Leon Marchand | |
| 2019 |  | JPN | Daiya Seto | |
| 2017 |  | USA | Chase Kalisz | |
| 2015 | | USA | Ryan Lochte | |
| 2013 | | USA | Ryan Lochte | |
| 2011 | | USA | Ryan Lochte | |
| 2009 | | USA | Ryan Lochte | |
| 2007 | | USA | Michael Phelps | |
| 2005 | | USA | Michael Phelps | |
| 2003 | | USA | Michael Phelps | |
| 2001 |  | ITA | Massimiliano Rosolino | |
| 1998 |  | NED | Marcel Wouda | |
| 1994 |  | FIN | Jani Sievinen | |
| 1991 |  | HUN | Tamas Darnyi | |
| 1986 | | HUN | Tamas Darnyi | |
| 1982 |  | URS | Aleksandr Sydorenko | |
| 1978 | | CAN | Graham Smith | |
| 1975 | | HUN | Andras Hargitay | |
| 1973 |  | SWE | Gunnar Larsson | |