Swimming in Swimming World Championships |  | ||||
| 2024 |  | USA | Claire Curzan | |
| 2023 |  | AUS | Kaylee McKeown | |
| 2022 | | AUS | Kaylee McKeown | |
| 2019 | | USA | Regan Smith | |
| 2017 | | AUS | Emily Seebohm | |
| 2015 | | AUS | Emily Seebohm | |
| 2013 | | USA | Missy Franklin | |
| 2011 | | USA | Missy Franklin | |
| 2009 |  | ZIM | Kirsty Coventry | |
| 2007 | | USA | Margaret Hoelzer | |
| 2005 | | ZIM | Kirsty Coventry | |
| 2003 |  | GBR | Katy Sexton | |
| 2001 |  | ROU | Diana Mocanu | |
| 1998 |  | FRA | Roxana Maracineanu | |
| 1994 |  | CHN | He Cihong | |
| 1991 |  | HUN | Krisztina Egerszegi | |
| 1986 |  | GDR | Cornelia Sirch | |
| 1982 | | GDR | Cornelia Sirch | |
| 1978 | | USA | Linda Jezek | |
| 1975 | | GDR | Birgit Treiber | |
| 1973 | | USA | Melissa Belote | |