Don’t Just Tune in Every Four Years: What to Watch Now that Olympic Swimming is Over
By Annika Hobson, Swimming World College Intern
Already missing the thrill of watching 2020 Tokyo Olympians battle it out in the pool? Can’t wait to watch some more speedy swimming? Well, the good news is you won’t have to wait until the Paris Olympics in 2024 as there are many current and upcoming swimming events.
Paralympic Swimming
Since the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Rome, swimming has been a part of the Paralympic program. For the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, swimming will begin on Aug. 25th and go until Sep. 6th. The action-packed racing will be able to be viewed through NBCUniversal. Excitingly, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics will have the most Paralympic coverage to date. The 2020 U.S. Paralympic team will feature 240-members. Be sure to tune into NBCUniversal to cheer on Team U.S.A. as they go for gold.
ISL
Fairly new to the world of swimming is the International Swimming League (ISL). Established in 2019, the ISL circuit allows high-level swimmers the chance to race in fierce competitions. The goal of the ISL is to create a way for pro swimmers to continue their swimming careers. In addition, the ISL brings in more media attention and money for the sport. The league has 10 clubs with a maximum of 32 athletes each. The ISL meets are exciting due to their fast-paced nature and star-studded fields. Gear up for some more exciting international racing as the first phase of this season of the ISL begins Aug. 26th in Naples, Italy.
NCAA Meets
With the beginning of August among us, the start of the collegiate swim season is quickly approaching. NCAA swimming is conducted in pools that are 25 yards, not the Olympic standard of 50 meters. The short course collegiate season necessitates different tactics with an even bigger emphasis on starts, turns, and finishes. Throughout the course of the NCAA season there are a multitude of fast dual meets. The season ends with the NCAA division I, II, and III Championships. Across the entire season, fans can witness fast swims, but nothing beats the exciting energy of the championship meets.
FINA World Cup Series
Another excellent opportunity to watch some fast swimming can be found in the FINA World Cup Series. The series will begin in October, with a leg in Berlin from October 1-3. The next leg runs from October 7-9 in Budapest. These two legs will include participation by the U.S. Junior National Team. Another leg will be held in Doha, Qatar from October 21-23, with the final stop in Kazan, Russia from October 28-30.
15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2021
After a thrilling Olympic season, the FINA World Swimming Championships provide the opportunity to see many of the same competitors transition from long course meters to short course meters. The 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships will be held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from December 16-21. This will be the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships. The swimmers will be competing in a 25-meter temporary pool.
19th FINA World Championships 2022
Every two years, FINA hosts the World Championships meet. The only bigger meet is the Olympics. The World Championships are held in odd years in between the Summer Olympics, but due to COVID-19, the World Championship meet set for August 2021 was moved to May 2022. Competition will take place from May 13-29, 2022 in Fukuoka, Japan.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
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