Australia has competed in swimming at the Summer Olympics since the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, after only sending a runner, Edwin Flack, to the 1896 Summer Olympics. Frederick Lane was Australia's sole swimming representative at the 1900 Games, winning two individual gold medals. Women's events were added at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm; Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, Australia's first female representatives, won gold and silver in the 100-metre freestyle, which was the first women's event on the program. At the 1908 Summer Olympics and the 1912 Summer Olympics, Australia competed as Australasia, sending a combined team with New Zealand. The table includes Malcolm Champion, a New Zealander who was part of the 4×200-metre freestyle relay team that captured gold in 1912.Andrews, pp. 412–423.

Australia has won a total of 78 gold medals in the sport, second only to the United States, who have won 257. East Germany is in third place with 38 golds, although this is widely attributed to state-sponsored systematic doping programs.

Swimming is Australia's most prolific Olympic sport, having been responsible for 78 of Australia's 185 Olympic gold medals. In addition, a list of the top 100 Australian Olympians of all time, compiled by the Australian Olympic Committee, named 35 swimmers in the top 100, more than any other sport. Swimmers have been given the honour of carrying the Australian flag six times in twelve at the closing ceremony, which is traditionally reserved for the most successful athlete of the delegation.

Australia's strongest-ever performance in swimming was at the 1956 Olympics on home soil in Melbourne. Australia claimed eight of the thirteen gold medals available, including both relays and a clean sweep of the medals in the 100-metre freestyle, considered the blue-riband event for both men and women. This is the only time that Australia has topped the medal tally in swimming, and the tally of gold medals was not surpassed until Australia won 9 at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, when the swimming program had expanded to its current 35 events.

Australia has been most successful in the freestyle discipline, with 51 of the 78 golds coming in the stroke. Eight of the gold have come from the men's 1500-metre freestyle, the most victories in the event by any country, which has resulted in the event being dubbed "Australia's race" by Australian commentators. Australia's first medal outside of freestyle did not come until 1932 when Clare Dennis and Bonnie Mealing won gold and silver in the 200-metre breaststroke and 100-metre backstroke respectively. It was not until John Davies' victory in the 200-metre breaststroke in 1952 that a male swimmer had won a medal outside of freestyle. Backstroke is Australia's weakest discipline, with David Theile's two consecutive golds in the 100-metre backstroke being the only victories in the discipline until Kaylee McKeown's double golds in Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

Individual medallists

The following table includes only medals won by Australian swimmers in individual events. Shane Gould won three gold, one silver, and one bronze, all in individual events at her only Olympics, aged 15. In doing so, she became the first woman to win three individual gold medals at one Olympics all in world record time. She is the only Australian to win five individual medals and three individual gold medals at one Olympics.Andrews, pp. 180–182. Kaylee McKeown has the most gold medals, with 4 total. Ariarne Titmus has the most total medals, with 6. Dawn Fraser won three consecutive gold medals in 1956, 1960, and 1964 in the 100-metre freestyle, becoming the first swimmer to win any event three times.Andrews, pp. 165–168. the following swimmers have won consecutive gold medals in a single event: Murray Rose (men's 400 m freestyle), Ian Thorpe (men's 400 m freestyle), Kieren Perkins (men's 1500 m freestyle), Grant Hackett (men's 1500 m freestyle), David Theile (men's 100 m backstroke), Ariarne Titmus (women's 400 m freestyle) and Kaylee McKeown (women's 100 & 200 m backstroke). Note: Years in bold indicate when a swimmer won a medal. Athlete Gold Silver Bronze Total Years competed Kaylee McKeown 4 0 1 5 2020, 2024 Ariarne Titmus 3 3 0 6 2020, 2024 Shane Gould 3 1 1 5 1972 Ian Thorpe 3 1 1 5 2000, 2004 Dawn Fraser 3 1 0 4 1956, 1960, 1964 Murray RoseAndrews, pp. 371–373. 3 1 0 4 1956, 1960 Grant Hackett 2 2 0 4 2000, 2004, 2008 Kieren Perkins 2 2 0 4 1992, 1996, 2000 Susie O'Neill 2 1 1 4 1992, 1996, 2000 Emma McKeon 2 0 2 4 2016, 2020, 2024 Frederick LaneAndrews, pp. 245–247. 2 0 0 2 1900 Stephanie Rice 2 0 0 2 2008, 2012 David TheileAndrews, pp. 432–433. 2 0 0 2 1956, 1960 Michael WendenAndrews, pp. 459–460. 2 0 0 2 1968, 1972 Leisel Jones 1 3 1 5 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 Petria Thomas 1 2 1 4 1996, 2000, 2004 Boy CharltonAndrews, pp. 85–88. 1 2 0 3 1924, 1928, 1932 Kyle Chalmers 1 2 0 3 2016, 2020, 2024 Libby Trickett 1 1 1 3 2004, 2008, 2012 Duncan ArmstrongAndrews, pp. 13–14. 1 1 0 2 1988, 1992 Lorraine CrappAndrews, pp. 106–107. 1 1 0 2 1956, 1960 John DevittAndrews, pp. 129–131. 1 1 0 2 1956, 1960 Zac Stubblety-Cook 1 1 0 2 2020, 2024 Michelle FordAndrews, pp. 162–164. 1 0 1 2 1976, 1980 John KonradsAndrews, pp. 236–238. 1 0 1 2 1956, 1960, 1964 Beverley WhitfieldAndrews, pp. 460–461. 1 0 1 2 1972 Kevin BerryAndrews, pp. 147–148. 1 0 0 1 1960, 1964 Brad CooperAndrews, pp. 99–101. 1 0 0 1 1972 John DaviesAndrews, pp. 124–125. 1 0 0 1 1948, 1952 Clare DennisAndrews, pp. 128–129. 1 0 0 1 1932 Fanny DurackAndrews, pp. 138–140. 1 0 0 1 1912 Jon HenricksAndrews, pp. 202–203. 1 0 0 1 1956, 1960 Jodie Henry 1 0 0 1 2004 Mack Horton 1 0 0 1 2016, 2020 Lyn McClementsAndrews, pp. 265–266. 1 0 0 1 1968 Cameron McEvoy 1 0 0 1 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 Gail NeallAndrews, pp. 314–315. 1 0 0 1 1972 Ian O'BrienAndrews, pp. 325–326. 1 0 0 1 1964, 1968 Mollie O'Callaghan 1 0 0 1 2020, 2024 Jon SiebenAndrews, p. 397. 1 0 0 1 1984, 1988, 1992 Bob WindleAndrews, pp. 465–466. 1 0 0 1 1964, 1968 Frank BeaurepaireAndrews, pp. 43–44. 0 1 3 4 1908, 1920, 1924 Daniel Kowalski 0 1 2 3 1996, 2000 Emily Seebohm 0 1 1 2 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 Alicia Coutts 0 1 1 2 2008, 2012, 2016 Hayley Lewis 0 1 1 2 1992, 1996, 2000 John MarshallAndrews, pp. 280–281. 0 1 1 2 1948, 1952, 1956 Matt Welsh 0 1 1 2 2000, 2004 Glenn Beringen 0 1 0 1 1984 Madeline Groves 0 1 0 1 2016 Brooke Hanson 0 1 0 1 2004 Meg Harris 0 1 0 1 2020, 2024 Neville HayesAndrews, p. 197. 0 1 0 1 1960 Cecil HealyAndrews, pp. 198–200. 0 1 0 1 1912 Glen HousmanAndrews, p. 214. 0 1 0 1 1992, 1996 Moesha Johnson 0 1 0 1 2024 Michael Klim 0 1 0 1 1996, 2000, 2004 Suzie LandellsAndrews, p. 243. 0 1 0 1 1984 Mitch Larkin 0 1 0 1 2012, 2016 Nancy LyonsAndrews, p. 263. 0 1 0 1 1948, 1952 James Magnussen 0 1 0 1 2012, 2016 Jack McLoughlin 0 1 0 1 2016, 2020 Bonnie MealingAndrews, pp. 286–287. 0 1 0 1 1928, 1932 Scott Miller 0 1 0 1 1996 John MoncktonAndrews, p. 303. 0 1 0 1 1956, 1960 Karen PhillipsAndrews, p. 351. 0 1 0 1 1984 Brenton Rickard 0 1 0 1 2008, 2012 Christian Sprenger 0 1 0 1 2008, 2012 Mark StockwellAndrews, p. 409. 0 1 0 1 1984 Eamon Sullivan 0 1 0 1 2004, 2008, 2012 Graham WindeattAndrews, pp. 464–465. 0 1 0 1 1972, 1976 Elijah Winnington 0 1 0 1 2020, 2024 Mina WylieAndrews, pp. 480–481. 0 1 0 1 1912 Peter EvansAndrews, p. 148. 0 0 2 2 1980, 1984 Harold HardwickAndrews, pp. 194–195. 0 0 2 2 1912 Samantha Riley 0 0 2 2 1992, 1996 Jessicah Schipper 0 0 2 2 2004, 2008, 2012 Allan WoodAndrews, pp. 469–470. 0 0 2 2 1960, 1964 Cate Campbell 0 0 2 2 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 Jan AndrewAndrews, p. 8. 0 0 1 1 1960 Bronte Barratt 0 0 1 1 2008, 2012, 2016 Graeme BrewerAndrews, pp. 62–63. 0 0 1 1 1980, 1984 Greg BroughAndrews, p. 64. 0 0 1 1 1968 Glenn BuchananAndrews, p. 68. 0 0 1 1 1984 Gary ChapmanAndrews, pp. 82–83. 0 0 1 1 1956 Judy-Joy DaviesAndrews, p. 125. 0 0 1 1 1948, 1952 Scott Goodman 0 0 1 1 1996 Stephen HollandAndrews, pp. 212–213. 0 0 1 1 1976 Geoff Huegill 0 0 1 1 2000, 2004 Mark KerryAndrews, pp. 231–232. 0 0 1 1 1976, 1980, 1984 Andrew Lauterstein 0 0 1 1 2008 Kareena Lee 0 0 1 1 2020 Faith LeechAndrews, p. 249. 0 0 1 1 1956 Justin LembergAndrews, p. 249. 0 0 1 1 1984 Julie McDonaldAndrews, pp. 266–267. 0 0 1 1 1988, 1992 Max MetzkerAndrews, p. 295. 0 0 1 1 1976, 1980 Karen MorasAndrews, p. 306. 0 0 1 1 1968, 1972 Justin Norris 0 0 1 1 2000, 2004 Michele PearsonAndrews, p. 346. 0 0 1 1 1980, 1984 Phil Rogers 0 0 1 1 1992, 1996, 2000 Brendon Smith 0 0 1 1 2020, 2024 Nicole Stevenson 0 0 1 1 1988, 1992, 1996 Hayden Stoeckel 0 0 1 1 2008, 2012 Rob WoodhouseAndrews, p. 475. 0 0 1 1 1984, 1988

All medallists The following table includes all those who have won medals, including as part of relay teams. Since 1984, swimmers who participated in the preliminary heats but not in the final were awarded medals if the final team went on to claim a medal, whereas those prior to 1984 did not. Those who swam in the heats only are marked with an asterisk, multiple times if multiple medals were awarded for swimming in heats only. Malcolm Champion, a member of the 4×200-metre freestyle relay team in 1912, was a New Zealander, competing as part of the combined Australasia team. His teammates in the combined relay team were Cecil Healy, Les Boardman, and Harold Hardwick. Emma McKeon is the most decorated Australian Olympian of all time, with six gold medals. Emma McKeon's seven medals, four gold and three bronze, at the 2020 Summer Olympics are the largest total in a single Olympics by an Australian. McKeon's career total of fourteen medals is the most by any Australian Olympian. Dawn Fraser and Murray Rose jointly held the previous records for gold medals, and Fraser the record of eight medals in total, prior to Thorpe.Andrews, pp. 358–359. Sandra Morgan, a member of the Australian women's 4×100-metre freestyle relay team in 1956, is the youngest Australian gold medallist of all time, aged 14 years and 6 months.

Note: Years in bold indicate when a swimmer won a medal.