Swimming in Swimming World Championships |  | ||||
| 2024 |  | USA | Kate Douglass | |
| 2023 | | USA | Kate Douglass | |
| 2022 | | USA | Alex Walsh | |
| 2019 |  | HUN | Katinka Hosszu | |
| 2017 | | HUN | Katinka Hosszu | |
| 2015 | | HUN | Katinka Hosszu | |
| 2013 | | HUN | Katinka Hosszu | |
| 2011 |  | CHN | Ye Shiwen | |
| 2009 | | USA | Ariana Kukors | |
| 2007 | | USA | Katie Hoff | |
| 2005 | | USA | Katie Hoff | |
| 2003 |  | UKR | Yana Klochkova | |
| 2001 | | USA | Martha Bowen | |
| 1998 | | CHN | Wu Yanyan | |
| 1994 | | CHN | Lu Bin | |
| 1991 | | CHN | Li Lin | |
| 1986 |  | GDR | Kristin Otto | |
| 1982 | | GDR | Petra Schneider | |
| 1978 | | USA | Tracy Caulkins | |
| 1975 | | USA | Kathy Heddy | |
| 1973 | | GDR | Andrea Hübner | |