[1][2] The swimming program for 2000 was expanded from 1996, with the inclusion of the semifinal phase in each of the events except for some special cases.

Because of the radical changes in the competition format, it was extended into an eight-day program and thereby continued into the present era.

[3][4] Swimmers from the United States were the most successful, winning 14 golds, 8 silver, and 11 bronze to lead the overall medal count with 33.

Meanwhile, hosts Australia had produced a total of 18 medals (five golds, nine silver, and four bronze) to claim the second spot in the tally.

[10] Aruba, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Guinea, Iraq, Laos, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Niger, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, and Tajikistan made their official debut in swimming.