It was announced on Tuesday that USA Swimming, the National Governing Body for swimming, has developed a relay incentive program for the teams selected for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships (Fukuoka, Japan) and the 2024 Olympic Games (Paris, France).
The focus for this incentive program will be on the seven relays contested at the Olympic Games:
- Women’s and Men’s 4×100 medley relays
- Women’s and Men’s 4×100 freestyle relays
- Women’s and Men’s 4×200 freestyle relays
- Mixed 4×100 medley relay
If USA Swimming wins all seven of these relays in Fukuoka, $500,000 will be split among all pool and open water World Championship team members. If USA Swimming places first through third (“medals”) in all seven relays, $150,000 will be split among all pool and open water World Championship team members.
At the Paris Olympic Games, if USA Swimming wins all seven relays, $1 million will be split among all pool and open water Olympic team members. If the team medals in all seven relays, $250,000 will be split among all pool and open water Olympic team members.
“This is an unprecedented incentive program with the ultimate goal of extraordinary relay success,” USA Swimming National Team Managing Director Lindsay Mintenko said. “While many might see swimming as an individual sport, we at USA Swimming know that a team focus is the very core of our success. We have a proud tradition in Olympic and World Championship relays, and we hope to foster that culture and camaraderie in the next wave of athletes.”
To qualify for a relay at the Olympic Games, federations are automatically in if they earn a top-three finish at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. If a federation falls short of that standard, they must post a top-13 time among competing federations in combined results from the 2023 Fukuoka meet and the 2024 World Aquatics Championships (Doha, Qatar) to earn a spot in Paris.
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with USA Swimming. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
Maybe some money could be routed to U.S. Paralympic Swimming. One Team, right? Ha ha ha. For Tokyo, the Olympic swimmers went to Hawaii for three weeks for training camp. Guess where the Paralympic Team went? Nowhere.
No way they beat Australia in the 4×100 women’s.