Swimming will feature 34 events, the second-most of any discipline on the London 2012 Olympic program.

Swimming's pool events, along with diving and synchronized swimming, will be held at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park.  It has been dubbed the “Gateway into the Games” as more than two-thirds of spectators are expected to enter the Olympic Park over a vast bridge that runs over the top part of the venue.

The open water events will be held in The Serpentine, an 11.34 hectare lake in Hyde Park which will also host the swimming portion of the triathlon.

 The Olympic swimming program is identical for men and women, except where noted.

• 50m freestyle                         • 100m freestyle                       
• 200m freestyle                        • 400m freestyle
• 800m freestyle (women only)    • 1500m freestyle (men only)
• 4x100m freestyle relay             • 4x200m freestyle relay
• 100m backstroke                     • 200m backstroke
• 100m breaststroke                   • 200m breaststroke
• 100m butterfly                         • 200m butterfly
• 200m individual medley            • 400m individual medley
• 4x100m medley relay
• 10km open water

London 2012 Storylines:

All eyes will once again be on American Michael Phelps who, with 16 Olympic medals already to his name, will be looking to surpass former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina's Olympic record of 18 career medals in London.

Phelps will be challenged for supremacy in the pool by fellow American Ryan Lochte who absolutely dominated the competition at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships from Shanghai where he captured six medals and was named the top male swimmer of the competition. 

London 2012 will also mark the return of “The Thorpedo”, as Australia's most decorated Olympian, Ian Thorpe, will make his return to Olympic competition, ending more than four years of retirement.

The opportunity for more world records and exceptional performances from the pool in London will also be in question given new swimsuit design rules which have been implemented prior to the Games.

Canada's Outlook:
Canada's lone swimming medal in Beijing 2008 was a bronze medal in the men's 1500m freestyle event courtesy of Ryan Cochrane, and he remains a top contender heading in to London. Since 2008, Cochrane has gone on to win silver in the 1500m freestyle at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships as well as gold in the same event at both the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Teammate Brent Hayden will be looking to put a stamp on his career in London 2012 and win the one prize that has eluded him – an Olympic medal.  He won silver in the 100m freestyle at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships and gold in the same event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.  The 2007 co-World Champion in the 100m freestyle, Hayden also often serves as the anchor in all three relays and there is hope for strong Canadian performances in these events as well.

Victoria's Richard Weinberger is one of the rising stars in the men's 10km open water race thanks to winning gold at the Olympic Test event in London and following that up with a gold medal performance at the Pan Am Games.

On the women's side, Annamay Pierse made a name for herself at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships when she set the world record in the semi-final of the 200m breaststroke before going on to win the silver medal.

Other International Athletes to Follow:

MEN

Ryan Lochte – United States

• Has won six Olympic medals (3 G, 1 S, 2 B) in his two Olympic appearances (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008)
• World record holder in the 200m individual medley and won Olympic gold in the 200m backstroke in Beijing 2008
• Won gold in 200m freestyle, 200m IM, 200m backstroke, 400m IM and 4x200m IM relay as well as bronze in 4x100m freestyle relay at 2011 World Championships

Kosuke Kitajima  – Japan

• Has won six Olympic medals (4 G, 0 S, 2 B), including consecutive victories in the 100m and 200m breaststroke in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008; the first swimmer to ever repeat as Olympic champion in both events
• Won silver in 200m breaststroke at 2011 World Championships

Natalie Coughlin – United States

• Her 11 Olympic medals (3 G, 4 S, 4 B) ties her for third-most all-time among swimmers
• Needs two medals to surpass fellow Americans Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres as the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history
• Won gold in 4x100m medley relay, silver in 4x100m freestyle relay and bronze in 100m backstroke at 2011 World Championships

• Won gold in 200m freestyle in Beijing 2008; won silver in 200m freestyle in Athens 2004
• World record holder in 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle; at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships became the first woman to break the four minute barrier in the 400m freestyle (3:59.15)
• Won gold in 200m and 400m freestyle at World Championships