Rome  - Michael Phelps will be joined by a record number of other participants at the upcoming swimming world championships in Rome, the ruling body FINA said on Tuesday.

The FINA said that 2,556 athletes from 185 countries have registered for the July 17-August 2 championships. The previous record was 2,158 athletes from 167 countries 2007 in Melbourne.

Phelps, the eight-time Olympic champion from 2008, will swim in the Foro Italico pool with 1,469 other athletes from 164 countries.

The long distance races in Ostia will see 152 swimmer from 39 countries, 416 athletes from 21 countries participate in water polo, diving will see 200 athletes from 43 countries and 41 countries send 269 athletes to the synchronised swimming events.(dpa)