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National Governing Body · United States

USA Swimming

Swimming's U.S. governing body — 380,000 members through 59 local committees, and the Olympic Trials that pick the team on time alone.
✓ Last reviewed: August 2026
SportSwimming
Founded1981 — out of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978
HeadquartersColorado Springs, Colorado
Members380,000+ across 59 Local Swimming Committees
LeadershipKevin M. Ring, President & CEO (from Sept 2025)
SelectionTime-based — Olympic Trials and ranked national-team lists

What is USA Swimming?

USA Swimming is the national governing body for swimming in the United States — recognised by World Aquatics and by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. It was created in 1981, when the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 broke the sport away from the Amateur Athletic Union and required each Olympic sport to have its own governing body.[1] [2]

What does it govern?

It sanctions meets nationwide; registers and licenses athletes, coaches, officials and clubs, all through one of 59 Local Swimming Committees; certifies officials; runs SafeSport compliance and background checks; and maintains SWIMS, the national times database in which every sanctioned swim is recorded. Membership stands at more than 380,000 individuals across roughly 2,800 clubs.[1] [3]

What competitions does it run?

The national championship calendar — Speedo Summer Championships, U.S. Nationals, Winter and Junior Nationals, the U.S. Open and Open Water Nationals — and, every four years, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, one of the largest and most-watched swimming meets in the world.[1] [3]

How does it select the national team?

Almost entirely on time, not judgement. At the Olympic Trials, places have historically gone to the top two finishers in each individual event, with relay swimmers added by place and time. The annual National Team is likewise a ranked list: for 2026–27, athletes are ordered by their fastest long-course time in each 2028 Olympic event from any sanctioned meet within a defined window, with the top five per event named — six in the 100 and 200 freestyle.[3] [4]

Why does it matter?

Because in the United States the route to an international swimming career runs through exactly one organisation: registration, meet sanctioning, the times database and team selection are all USA Swimming's. A swimmer's record in SWIMS is, in practice, their competitive identity — and the selection procedures are published in advance, which makes the standard an objective one.[1] [3]

References

  1. USA Swimming — organization overview. Accessed August 2026.
  2. USA Swimming. Accessed August 2026.
  3. USA Swimming — 2026–27 National Team selection procedures. Accessed August 2026.
  4. USA Swimming — Brent Lang elected board chair. Accessed August 2026.