2001 World Aquatics Championships

The 2001 World Aquatics Championships or the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan between 16 July and 29 July 2001.

The opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the swimming and synchronised swimming events, were held at Marine Messe an indoor multi-purpose facility. The temporary 50-m pool with 10,000 seats on three sides cost US $4 million for the two-week period. The Fukuoka Prefectural Pool hosted the diving events, with open water swimming taking place at Momochi Beach. Water polo was held at two locations: the men's competition took place at Hakata-no-Mori Center Court and the women's event at the Nishi Civic Pool Complex.

The swimming event resulted in eight world records and an Australian win over the USA in gold medals (13 to 9), although the USA claimed 26 total medals to 23 for Australia. The men's FINA Trophy (top individual performers) was awarded to Australia's Ian Thorpe for his three individual wins, his fourth in the 100m Freestyle, and bonus points for three world records, for a total of 22 points. Inge de Bruijn (Netherlands) won the women's FINA Trophy with 15 points for three individual wins. Points are awarded 5-3-2-1 with a bonus of two for a world record.

There were a total number of 48 World Championship records in forty events (up from 32 events in 1998). Continental records were bettered as follows: Africa 1, Americas 8, Asia 21, Europe 14, and Oceania 10. A total of 1.498 competitors from 134 National Federations took part in the five disciplines of Open Water (104), Diving (146), Synchronized (166), Swimming (720) and Men’s (209) and Women’s (153) Water Polo.

The swimming events were held in the Seiko timing system used for swimming had some faulty touch pads and caused controversy throughout the eight days of the competition. Men’s events were faster than the women’s, with all the world records set by the men. Australia swept the men’s relays (a first) and won two of three of the women’s relays, although subsequently disqualified in the 4x200 free for a post-race infraction – jumping into the pool before all teams had finished.