What is World Aquatics?
World Aquatics is the international federation (IF) that governs aquatic sports worldwide. It sets the rules of competition, ratifies world records, organizes the world championships, and oversees athlete eligibility and integrity across six disciplines: swimming, open water swimming, diving, high diving, water polo and artistic swimming.[1] It was known as FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) from its founding in 1908 until January 2023, when it adopted its current name.[1] [2]
What does World Aquatics govern?
The federation holds worldwide authority over the six aquatic disciplines: it issues the technical rules every sanctioned competition follows, maintains the official world records and world rankings, sets qualification systems for its championships and for the Olympic aquatic events, and runs anti-doping and integrity programs through the independent Aquatics Integrity Unit.[1] [3] Decisions of the federation apply through its member national federations, which govern the sport domestically.
When was World Aquatics founded and where is it based?
The federation was founded on 19 July 1908 in London, during the 1908 Olympic Games, by eight national federations seeking uniform rules and records for international swimming.[2] It was headquartered for decades in Lausanne, Switzerland; in 2023 its congress voted to move the headquarters to Budapest, Hungary, where its new home has since been established.[4] [5] Its president is Husain Al-Musallam (Kuwait), first elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2023.[6]
How is World Aquatics recognized?
World Aquatics is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole international federation for aquatic sports and is a member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).[7] Aquatic sports have appeared at every edition of the modern Olympic Games since 1896, and World Aquatics governs the Olympic competitions in all six of its disciplines.[7]
What competitions does World Aquatics organize?
- World Aquatics Championships — the flagship world championships for all aquatic disciplines, held since 1973, now in odd years.[8]
- World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25 m) — the short-course swimming worlds, held since 1993.[8]
- Swimming World Cup — an annual professional series, held since 1988.[9]
- Discipline World Cups and world championships — including the Diving World Cup, Water Polo World Cup, and world junior championships in each discipline.[8]
- World Aquatics Masters Championships — for age-group athletes 25 and over.[8]
How is World Aquatics structured?
World Aquatics comprises 211 national member federations, grouped in five continental organizations — for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania (e.g., European Aquatics, formerly LEN).[1] The supreme authority is the General Congress of member federations; between congresses the federation is led by an elected Bureau headed by the president.[6] National federations — such as USA Swimming or the Egyptian Swimming Federation — affiliate through this structure and select national teams for World Aquatics competitions.
References
- World Aquatics — About. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — Creation of FINA. Accessed August 2026.
- Aquatics Integrity Unit. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — New Headquarters in Budapest. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — Budapest transition. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — Executive. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — International Federations. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — Competitions. Accessed August 2026.
- World Aquatics — Swimming World Cup. Accessed August 2026.