Tuesday, March 14, 2023
USA Swimming Announces Relay Incentive Program
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – 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:
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 in Fukuoka. 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.
The focus for this incentive program will be on the seven relays contested at the Olympic Games:
- Women’s and Men’s 4x100 medley relays
- Women’s and Men’s 4x100 freestyle relays
- Women’s and Men’s 4x200 freestyle relays
- Mixed 4x100 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 in Fukuoka. 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.