The 2020 US Olympic Trials schedule will match that of the 2020 Toyko Olympics, as has been the case in years past, USA Swimming Chief Operating Officer Mike Unger confirmed to SwimSwam Wednesday.
However, due to the addition of the men’s 800 free, women’s 1500 free, and mixed-gender 400 medley relay, Olympic organizers could add a day to the Tokyo meet schedule, thus extending US Trials as well.
Unger added that USA Swimming is currently working with both FINA and NBC, and expects the Olympic schedule to be finalized within the “next couple of months.”
It was announced in May 2017 that Trials would return to Omaha for the fourth-straight Olympic cycle.
Regardless of the schedule, we already know that fewer athletes are expected to make 2020 Trials than in 2016. USA Swimming committed in March to reducing the number of qualifiers for the meet after what they called “overcrowding” in the previous two editions. After 1,700+ swimmers competed at the 2012 and 2016 trials, their target is set at 1200-1400 participants for 2020.
As a means to meet this goal, the organization announced that times swum at 2018 Summer Nationals will\ not count towards Trials cuts, giving swimmers only one long course cycle to qualify, rather than the two they had to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. In 2012, swimmers had three long course cycles to qualify.
The bottom line: it is up to FINA and the Olympic Committee to figure out when the new races will be swum, and once that happens, USA Swimming can finalize the Trials schedule.
The last day(Day 8) morning was empty right?
Move both medley relays prelims to the last day morning, they will have Day 7 morning for the mixed MR.
It’s been rumored that the 2020 Olys will have morning finals (11am) a la Beijing for the American TV audience to view them live during the evening. If so, this will add another piece to the scheduling puzzle. One idea would be to have the prelims for men’s 800 and women’s 1500 on “Day 0,” or the same day as opening ceremonies, and then jam them in to days 1-8 (usual Oly swimming schedule). What are your ideas? It should be interesting to see what the swimming geniuses at FINA figure out!
I think it makes sense to go to “timed finals” for both 1500s like they do for pan pacs and a few other meets
I agree
Not again! I understand that the ridiculously late Rio finals were not even shown live in half of the USA , even though they were shifted for American TV . Unbelievable