Swimming in Swimming World Championships |  | ||||
| 2024 |  | USA | Claire Curzan | |
| 2023 |  | AUS | Kaylee McKeown | |
| 2022 | | USA | Regan Smith | |
| 2019 |  | CAN | Kylie Masse | |
| 2017 | | CAN | Kylie Masse | |
| 2015 | | AUS | Emily Seebohm | |
| 2013 | | USA | Missy Franklin | |
| 2011 |  | CHN | Zhao Jing | |
| 2009 |  | GBR | Gemma Spofforth | |
| 2007 | | USA | Natalie Coughlin | |
| 2005 |  | ZIM | Kirsty Coventry | |
| 2003 |  | GER | Antje Buschschulte | |
| 2001 | | USA | Natalie Coughlin | |
| 1998 | | USA | Lea Maurer | |
| 1994 | | CHN | He Cihong | |
| 1991 |  | HUN | Krisztina Egerszegi | |
| 1986 | | USA | Betsy Mitchell | |
| 1982 |  | GDR | Kristin Otto | |
| 1978 | | USA | Linda Jezek | |
| 1975 | | GDR | Ulrike Richter | |
| 1973 | | GDR | Ulrike Richter | |