COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Japan Swimming Federation, Swimming Australia, Swimming Canada and USA Swimming today announced the addition of the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships to the international events calendar. The competition will take place August 24-27, 2022 at the K. Mark Takai Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and be hosted by the U.S.

Following the cancellation of the 2022 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, the quadrennial meet will play host to junior athletes from the four charter Pan Pacific nations—Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States—and other select non-European Swimming League (LEN) countries.

“We are grateful to the Pan Pacs charter nations for their support and partnership of this international meet and look forward to welcoming them to Hawaii,” USA Swimming Managing Director of the National Team Lindsay Mintenko. “When the opportunity presented itself to fill a gap and host an event for our junior team athletes, we didn’t hesitate. We all understand the value and importance of international team trips and competitions for our next generation of athletes.”

Japan Swimming Federation President Daichi Suzuki added: "Japan Swimming Federation is delighted that the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships will be held for junior swimmers on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan will send the best junior team. Best of luck and success for all participants.” 

“Quality international competition is critical for the athletes in our pathway, particularly given the challenges of the last two years,” Swimming Australia High Performance Director Tamara Sheppard said. “This group have been eager to test themselves against the best in the world and I know they will relish the opportunity to race, and the experience gained against our Pan Pacific partners.”

Swimming Canada High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson stated: “Swimming Canada are delighted that a Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships can take place this summer in Honolulu, and we thank all who have helped make this happen. This will provide a great opportunity and experience for our National Development Team Program athletes to qualify for this team and then race internationally. The Pan Pac Charter Nations and this event are very important to Swimming Canada and we value being part of this group of like-minded swimming nations.”

The competition was previously scheduled to take place in 2021 before being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships were last hosted by Japan in Fiji in 2018.