Il nuoto fu inserito nel programma dei Giochi panamericani sin dalla prima edizione del 1951. Accanto all'atletica leggera rappresenta uno degli sport con più seguito di pubblico all'interno della manifestazione continentale. Le competizioni si svolgono tutte in vasca lunga (50 m).
Uomini 50 m stile libero Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1987 Tom Williams 22.55 Michael Neuhofel 22.84 Claude Lamy Hilton Woods23.391991 Todd Pace 22.60 Adam Schmitt 22.61 Gustavo Borges22.821995 Fernando Scherer22.65 Bill Pilczuk 22.71 Tom Jager 22.751999 Fernando Scherer22.24 José Meolans 22.46 Marcos Hernández22.792003 Fernando Scherer22.40 José Meolans 22.42 Gary Hall Jr.22.432007 César Cielo Filho21.84 Nicholas Santos 22.18 George Bovell22.302011 César Cielo Filho 21.58 Bruno Fratus 22.05 Hanser García 22.152015 Josh Schneider 21.86 Bruno Fratus 21.91 George Bovell 22.172019 Bruno Fratus 21.61 Nathan Adrian 21"87 Michael Chadwick 21"992023 David Curtiss 21"85 Jonny Kulow 21"90 Lamar Taylor 22"13
100 m stile libero Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1951 Dick Cleveland 58.8 Ronald Gora 59.5 Nicasio Silverio1:00.11955 Clarke Scholes 57.7 George Park 58.7 Carl Woolley59.31959 Jeffrey Farrell 56.3 Elton Follett 57.2 William Woolsey57.61963 Steve Clark 54.7 Steven Jackman 54.8 Daniel Sherry56.11967 Don Havens 53.79 Zach Zorn 53.97 Sandy Gilchrist54.851971 Frank Heckl 52.80 José Aranha 53.74 Bob Kasting53.761975 Richard Abbott 51.96 Jack Babashoff 52.26 Bruce Robertson53.441979 David McCagg 50.77 Fernando Cañales 51.25 John Newton51.451983 Rowdy Gaines 50.38 Fernando Cañales 50.43 Alberto Mestre51.091987 Todd Dudley 50.24 Scott McCadam 50.81 Mark Andrews51.241991 Gustavo Borges 49.48 Joel Thomas 50.55 Rodrigo González 51.251995 Gustavo Borges 49.31 Jon Olsen 49.39 Fernando Scherer 49.791999 Fernando Scherer 49.19 José Martín Meolans 49.49 Gustavo Borges 50.102003 José Martín Meolans 49.27 George Bovell 49.61 Gustavo Borges 49.902007 César Cielo Filho48.79 José Martín Meolans 49.42 Gabriel Woodward49.592011 César Cielo Filho47.84 Hanser Garcia 48.34 Shaune Fraser48.632019 Marcelo Chierighini 48"09 Nathan Adrian 48"17 Michael Chadwick 48"882023 Guilherme Caribé48"06 Brooks Curry 48"38Non assegnata Jonny Kulow
200 m stile libero Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1967 Don Schollander 1:56.01 Ralph Hutton 1:58.44 Julio Arango2:01.771971 Frank Heckl 1:56.36 James McConica 1:58.18 Ralph Hutton1:59.891975 Jorge Delgado 1:55.45 Rick DeMont 1:55.96 Rex Favero1:57.081979 Rowdy Gaines 1:51.22 David Larson1:52.24 Djan Madruga 1:52.341983 Bruce Hayes 1:49.89 Alberto Mestre1:50.36 Rowdy Gaines 1:51.271987 John Witchel 1:50.90 Carlos Scanavino 1:51.21 Brian Jones1:52.111991 Eric Diehl 1:49.67 Gustavo Borges 1:49.74 René Sáez 1:52.141995 Gustavo Borges 1:48.49 Greg Burgess 1:48.69 Josh Davis 1:51.921999 Gustavo Borges 1:49.41 Scott Tucker 1:50.99 Leonardo Costa 1:51.292003 George Bovell 1:48.90 Dan Ketchum 1:49.34 Rodrigo Castro 1:49.552007 Matthew Owen 1:48.78 Shaune Fraser 1:48.95 Adam Sioui 1:48.972011 Brett Fraser 1:47.18 Shaune Fraser 1:48.29 Benjamin Hockin 1:48.482015 João de Lucca 1'46"42 Federico Grabich 1'47"62 Michael Weiss 1'47"632019 Fernando Scheffer 1'46"68 Breno Correia 1'47"47 Drew Kibler 1'47"712023 Coby Carrozza 1'47"37 Jorge Iga 1'47"56 Murilo Sartori 1'47"95
400 m stile libero Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1951 Tetsuo Okamoto 4:52.4 William Heusner 4:54.5 Tonatiuh Gutiérrez4:57.21955 James McLane 4:51.3 Wayne Moore 4:53.4 Oscar Kramer4:56.11959 George Breen 4:31.4 George Harrison 4:31.8 Eugene Lenz4:34.91963 Roy Saari 4:19.3 Don Schollander 4:23.3 Sandy Gilchrist4:29.11967 Greg Charlton 4:10.23 Ralph Hutton 4:11.88 Mike Burton4:15.741971 James McConica 4:08.97 Steven Genter 4:13.05 Ralph Hutton4:15.751975 Douglas Northway 4:00.51 Bobby Hackett 4:03.38 Djan Madruga4:06.831979 Brian Goodell 3:53.01 Djan Madruga 3:57.46 Peter Szmidt3:58.341983 Bruce Hayes 3:53.17 Matt Cetlinski3:53.51 Marcelo Jucá 3:55.661987 Paul Robinson 3:54.44 Cristiano Michelena3:55.37 Scott Brackett 3:55.641991 Sean Killion 3:50.38 José Herrera 3:54.91 Eric Diehl 3:58.061995 Josh Davis 3:55.59 Luiz Lima 3:56.33 Jon Sakovich 3:57.371999 Luiz Lima 3:52.25 Austin Ramirez 3:53.64 Rick Say 3:54.662003 Ricardo Monasterio 3:50.01 Fran Crippen 3:52.62 Bruno Bonfim 3:54.822007 Matt Patton 3:49.77 Tobias Work 3:50.62 Armando Negreiros 3:51.182011 Charles Houchin 3:50.95 Matthew Patton 3:51.25 Cristian Quintero 3:52.512015 Ryan Cochrane 3:48.29 Ryan Feeley 3:49.69 Leonardo de Deus 3:50.302019 Andrew Abruzzo 3'48"41 Fernando Scheffer 3'49"60 Luiz Altamir Melo 3'49"912023 Guilherme Costa 3'46"79 Alfonso Mestre 3'47"62 James Plage 3'50"74
800 m stile libero Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.2019 Andrew Abruzzo 7'54"70 Miguel Valente 7'56"37 Ricardo Vargas 7'56"782023 Guilherme Costa 7'53"01 Alfonso Mestre 7'54"46 Will Gallant 7'58"96
1500 m stile libero Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1951 Tetsuo Okamoto 19:23.3 Tonatiuh Gutiérrez19:24.5 Efrén Fierro 19:57.41955 James McLane 20:04.0 Oscar Kramer20:09.9 Gilberto Arango 20:37.21959 Alan Somers 17:53.2 George Breen 17:55.0 Gary Heinrich18:30.61963 Roy Saari 17:26.2 Sandy Gilchrist17:58.9 Ralph Hutton 18:08.61967 Mike Burton16:44.40 Ralph Hutton 16:51.81 Andy Strenk 17:03.431971 Pat Miles 16:32.03 Tom McBreen 16:32.99 Guillermo García16:45.561975 Bobby Hackett 15:53.10 Paul Hartloff 15:57.32 Djan Madruga16:30.081979 Brian Goodell 15:24.36 Djan Madruga 15:41.74 Bobby Hackett 15:46.831983 Jeff Kostoff 15:30.67 Marcelo Jucá 15:33.01 Carlos Scanavino15:36.071987 Alex Kostich 15:20.90 Lars Jorgensen 15:24.09 Chris Chalmers15:30.511991 Alex Kostich 15:21.36 José Herrera 15:33.61 Pedro Carrío 15:39.731995 Carlton Bruner 15:13.90 Luiz Lima 15:19.53 Ryan Cox 15:37.281999 Tim Siciliano 15:14.94 Luiz Lima 15:21.92 Ricardo Monasterio 15:28.642003 Ricardo Monasterio 15:16.98 Fran Crippen 15:19.63 Chris Thompson 15:19.642007 Charles Peterson 15:12.33 Ricardo Monasterio 15:23.28 Kier Maitland 15:25.282011 Arthur Frayler 15:19.59 Joseph Feely 15:22.19 Juan Pereyra 15:26.202015 Ryan Cochrane 15:06.40 Andrew Gemmell 15:09.92 Brandonn Almeida 15:11.702019 Guilherme Da Costa 15'09"93 Nicholas Sweetser 15'14"24 Ricardo Vargas 15'14"992023 Guilherme Costa 15'09"29 Will Gallant 15'12"94 Alfonso Mestre 15'19"60
100 m dorso Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1951 Allen Stack 1:08.0 Pedro Galvao1:08.3 Burwell Jones 1:09.81955 Frank McKinney 1:07.1 Pedro Galvao1:07.8 Buddy Baarcke 1:07.91959 Frank McKinney 1:03.6 Chuck Bittick1:04.2 Louis Schaeffer 1:05.31963 Ed Bartsch 1:01.5 Chuck Bittick1:02.1 Athos de Oliveira 1:03.21967 Charles Hickcox 1:01.19 Fred Haywood1:02.45 Jim Shaw 1:02.871971 Mel Nash 59.84 John Murphy1:00.84 Bill Kennedy 1:01.351975 Peter Rocca 58.31 Bob Jackson58.90 Rômulo Arantes 59.161979 Bob Jackson 56.66 Rômulo Arantes57.20 Steve Pickell 57.891983 Rick Carey 55.19 Dave Bottom56.90 Mike West 57.201987 Andy Gill 56.56 David Berkoff57.35 Alejandro Alvizuri 58.651991 Andy Gill 55.79 Rodolfo Falcón 56.12 Bobby Brewer 56.391995 Jeff Rouse 54.74 Tripp Schwenk55.60 Rodolfo Falcón 56.131999 Rodolfo Falcón 54.93 Alexandre Massura55.17 Matt Allen 55.862003 Peter Marshall 55.52 George Bovell55.81 Jayme Cramer 55.882007 Randall Bal 53.66 Peter Marshall54.64 Thiago Pereira 54.752011 Thiago Pereira 54.56 Eugene Godsoe54.61 Guilherme Guido 54.812015 Nick Thoman 53.20 Guilherme Guido 53.35 Eugene Godsoe 53.962019 Daniel Carr 53"50 Guilherme Guido 53"54 Dylan Carter 54"42
200 m dorso Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1967 Ralph Hutton 2:12.55 Charles Hickcox2:13.05 Charles Goettsche 2:15.941971 Charlie Campbell 2:07.09 Tim McKee2:07.87 John Hawes 2:14.721975 Dan Harrigan 2:06.69 Mike Scarth2:09.20 Bob Jackson 2:10.181979 Peter Rocca 2:00.98 Jesse Vassallo2:02.07 Djan Madruga 2:04.741983 Rick Carey 1:59.34 Ricardo Prado2:02.85 Mike West 2:03.111987 Mike O'Brien 2:02.29 Ricardo Prado2:03.75 Raymond Brown 2:04.281991 Rogério Romero 2:01.07 Dan Veatch 2:01.14 Manuel Guzmán 2:01.681995 Brad Bridgewater 2:00.79 Rodolfo Falcón 2:00.98 Rogério Romero2:01.131999 Leonardo Costa1:59.33 Aaron Peirsol 1:59.77 Dan Shevchik 2:00.272003 Rogério Romero 1:59.92 Luke Wagner2:00.74 Joey Faltraco 2:01.312007 Thiago Pereira 1:58.42 Tyler Clary1:59.24 Lucas Salatta 1:59.512011 Thiago Pereira 1:57.19 Omar Pinzón1:58.31 Ryan Murphy 1:58.502015 Sean Lehane 1:57.47 Carter Griffin 1:58.18 Leonardo de Deus 1:58.272019 Daniel Carr 1'58"13 Nick Alexander 1'58"30 Leonardo de Deus 1'58"73
100 m rana Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1967 José Sylvio Fiolo 1:07.52 Russ Webb1:09.13 Ken Merten 1:09.321971 Mark Chatfield 1:06.75 Brian Job1:07.93 José Sylvio Fiolo 1:07.941975 Rick Colella 1:06.28 Lawrence Dowler1:06.61 José Sylvio Fiolo 1:08.121979 Steve Lundquist 1:03.82 Greg Winchell1:04.76 Graham Smith 1:05.661983 Steve Lundquist 1:02.28 John Moffet1:02.36 Pablo Restrepo 1:03.891987 Rich Korhammer 1:03.85 David Lundberg1:04.11 Darcy Wallingford 1:04.551991 Hans Dersch 1:02.57 Todd Torres 1:02.83 Jeff Commings 1:03.021995 Seth van Neerden 1:02.48 Jonathan Cleveland 1:03.17 Tyler Mayfield1:03.171999 Ed Moses1:00.99 Jarrod Marrs Morgan Knabe1:02.11 Non assegnata2003 Mark Gangloff 1:00.95 Jarrod Marrs1:01.71 Eduardo Fischer 1:01.882007 Scott Dickens1:01.20 Mark Gangloff 1:01.24 Mathieu Bois 1:01.832011 Felipe França Silva1:00.34 Felipe Lima 1:00.99 Marcus Titus 1:01.122015 Felipe França 59.21 Felipe Lima 1:00.01 Richard Funk 1:00.292019 João Gomes Júnior 59"51 Felipe Lima 59"57 Kevin Cordes 1'00"27
200 m rana Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1951 Héctor Domínguez 2:43.8 Willy Otto Jordan2:47.3 Bowen Stassforth 2:47.61955 Héctor Domínguez 2:46.9 Manuel Sanguily2:47.3 Walter Ocampo 2:50.71959 Bill Mulliken 2:43.1 Kenneth Nakasone2:43.2 Manuel Sanguily 2:44.31963 Chester Jastremski 2:35.4 Ken Merten2:38.4 John Kelso 2:41.41967 José Sylvio Fiolo 2:30.42 Robert Momsen2:31.01 Ken Merten 2:34.171971 Rick Colella 2:27.12 Felipe Muñoz2:27.22 Brian Job 2:28.111975 Rick Colella 2:24.00 Dave Heinbuch2:28.96 Gustavo Lozano 2:29.281979 Steve Lundquist 2:21.97 John Simmons2:22.45 Pablo Restrepo 2:23.131983 Steve Lundquist 2:19.31 Pablo Restrepo2:20.21 Doug Soltis 2:20.891987 Jeff Kubiak 2:17.62 Mike Barrowman2:19.29 Darcy Wallingford 2:22.011991 Mario Gonzáles2:15.50 Nelson Diebel2:16.08 Tyler Mayfield2:17.491995 Seth van Neerden2:16.08 Eric Namesnik2:17.70 Curtis Myden2:19.001999 Morgan Knabe2:14.73 Steven West 2:16.26 Mark Gangloff2:16.602003 Kyle Salyards2:13.37 Sean Quinn2:15.77 Marcelo Tomazini2:15.872007 Thiago Pereira2:13.51 Henrique Barbosa2:13.83 Scott Spann2:13.982011 Sean Mahoney2:11.62 Christopher Burckle2:12.60 Thiago Pereira2:13.582015 Thiago Simon 2:09.82 Richard Funk 2:11.51 Thiago Pereira 2:11.932019 William Licon 2'07"62 Nicolas Fink 2'08"16 Miguel de Lara 2'11"23
100 m farfalla Edizione Oro Prest. Argento Prest. Bronzo Prest.1967 Mark Spitz56.20 Ross Wales57.04 Luis Nicolao58.631971 Frank Heckl56.92 Jerry Heidenreich57.30 Byron MacDonald58.401975 Mike Curington56.09 Greg Jagenburg56.13 Bruce Robertson56.801979 Robert Placak55.54 Dan Thompson55.56 Clay Evans56.631983 Matt Gribble54.25 Pablo Morales54.62 Rafael Vidal54.721987 Anthony Nesty53.89 Wade King54.33 Michael Dillon54.451991 Anthony Nesty53.45 Mike Merrell54.60 Eduardo Piccinini55.001995 Mark Henderson54.11 Eduardo Piccinini 54.63 Brian Alderman 54.751999 Francisco Sánchez53.33 Shamek Pietucha53.40 José Martín Meolans54.032003 Ben Michaelson53.04 José Martín Meolans53.28 Kaio de Almeida53.442007 Kaio de Almeida52.05 Gabriel Mangabeira52.43 Albert Subirats52.782011 Albert Subirats52.37 Eugene Godsoe52.67 Chris Brady52.952015 Giles Smith 52.04 Santiago Grassi 52.09 Santo Condorelli 52.422019 Thomas Shields 51"59 Luis Martínez 51"63 Vinicius Lanza 51"88
200 m farfalla