Swimming is one of the few Olympic events that has been part of the Games since the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It has also remained one of the most popular events.
This year, Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel are headlining Team U.S.A. Both are seven-time Olympic gold medalists, looking to add more hardware to their collections in this year's Summer Olympics in Paris. If you want to keep up with Ledecky, Dressel and the rest of the Team U.S.A, here’s how to watch every event.
Olympic swimming will be broadcast across three NBC-owned networks as well as on Peacock.
DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
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NBC |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔* |
✔ |
USA Network |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
Telemundo |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
*Local channels only available in select locations |
Peacock is NBC’s streaming service and the most affordable place to watch the 2024 Olympics, including Olympic swimming. Peacock features 50+ channels, including the essentials you need to watch Olympic swimming: NBC and USA Network. With a Premium Plus plan, you also have 24/7 access to your local NBC channel.
You can choose to pay for Peacock either month-to-month or semiannually, which gives you the financial freedom to enjoy Peacock until the end of the Olympics or until the end of the year. Peacock Premium Plus also allows you to download content to enjoy offline, whether you’re in the U.S. or on your way to Paris.
DIRECTV STREAM is one of the pricier ways to tune into Olympic swimming events. However, there is a lot to be found in DIRECTV STREAM'S lineup of channels. Olympic fans would do best to choose a Choice plan because itincludes over 125 channels and also gives you access to select complementary subscriptions to streaming services like Max and Paramount Plus. DIRECTV STREAM is also one of multiple streaming services that offer Unlimited Cloud DVR, so you never have to choose what events to watch only once.
Depending on scheduling, some events may only be available to stream online via Peacock, so keep an eye on the schedule as the Olympics evolve. But if you’re looking for a long-term streaming service solution, check out a free trial of any DIRECTV STREAM plan.
Fans of Olympic swimming will find a friend in Fubo. Fubo's three plans all include over 100 channels, with a focus on catering to sports fans. Fubo has finally introduced unlimited Cloud DVR, so you can save each splashy race to watch again and again.
The Pro plan is all you need in order to catch the majority of Olympic swimming events in 2024, as it includes NBC, USA Network, and Telemundo. Be sure to check the larger Olympic swimming schedule to see which events will be streamed online only, outside the scope of Fubo.
Hulu + Live TV offers comprehensive coverage of Olympic swimming with each of Hulu's live TV plans. Subscribers can enjoy live broadcasts of Olympic swimming events across all of NBC’s networks: NBC, USA Network, and Telemundo. Plus, Hulu’s unlimited Cloud DVR feature allows you to build a personal library of Olympic swimming events to watch at your convenience after closing ceremonies.
When the Olympics are over, you can also enjoy the plethora of other content your plan has to offer, including Hulu’s on-demand library and hundreds of hours of sports available on ESPN Plus. Each Hulu + Live TV plan includes a complementary Disney Plus and ESPN Plus subscription. Access all three of your streaming services with the same login.
Sling TV is a great choice for Olympic swimming fans who want an affordable streaming option and don’t need to catch every event. When looking at Sling TV's plans, a Sling Blue subscription, which includes USA Network and NBC in some locations, will allow you to catch the most strokes.
For full coverage of Olympic swimming, you may need to invest in a Peacock subscription, and Spanish speakers will need to add Telemundo as an add-on channel to their Sling TV plan. Additionally, keep in mind Sling TV's DVR isn't the most generous—it starts with 50 hours of storage, but you can upgrade to 200 hours with the DVR Plus add-on if you need more recording space. The Olympics are busy, though, so you may want to look for a streaming service that supports Unlimited DVR.
YouTube TV is a great option for tuning into Olympic events because the service offers NBC, USA, E!, Telemundo and Universo in its base plan. Looking for more sports after the Olympics? Check out the YouTube TV Sports Plus Add-on with NFL RedZone, Fox Soccer Plus, FanDuel TV, Tennis Channel and more.
YouTube TV also includes unlimited Cloud DVR and three simultaneous streams at home. Opting for the 4K add-on gives you unlimited screens at home.
You can find the full Olympic swimming schedule on the official Olympics website. Events kick off as early as 5 a.m. ET on Saturday, July 27.
There are two different types of swimming in the Olympics: swimming and artistic swimming. Swimming encompasses four competitive strokes in individual races and relays, and artistic swimming combines dance and gymnastics with swimming in a rhythmic fashion.
Since retiring from swimming, Michael Phelps regularly serves as a guest commentator for professional swimming events worldwide. Additionally, Phelps regularly advocates for mental health and is a philanthropist.
The four competitive swimming strokes for the Olympics are the freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke.