Swimming World Championships |  | ||||
| 2024 |  | CHN | Li Bingjie | |
| 2023 |  | AUS | Mollie O'Callaghan | |
| 2022 | | CHN | Yang Junxuan | |
| 2019 |  | ITA | Federica Pellegrini | |
| 2017 | | ITA | Federica Pellegrini | |
| 2015 |  | USA | Katie Ledecky | |
| 2013 | | USA | Missy Franklin | |
| 2011 | | ITA | Federica Pellegrini | |
| 2009 | | ITA | Federica Pellegrini | |
| 2007 |  | FRA | Laure Manaudou | |
| 2005 | | FRA | Solenne Figues | |
| 2003 |  | BLR | Alena Popchanka | |
| 2001 | | AUS | Giaan Rooney | |
| 1998 |  | CRC | Claudia Poll | |
| 1994 |  | GER | Franziska van Almsick | |
| 1991 | | AUS | Hayley Lewis | |
| 1986 |  | GDR | Heike Friedrich | |
| 1982 |  | NED | Annemarie Verstappen | |
| 1978 | | USA | Cynthia Woodhead | |
| 1975 | | USA | Shirley Babashoff | |
| 1973 | | USA | Keena Rothhammer | |