After a few weeks ago announcing that they would only take 13 men and 13 women to next year’s World University Games in Kazan, Russia, USA Swimming revealed today that they would, in fact, expand to a full roster of 26 men and 26 women, as has been the standard. This allows for the team to take two individual entries in each race, and depending on doubles maybe even a few relay-only swimmers.
The latest release, posted below, will be welcome news for many college swimmers who were hoping to use this meet as either a stepping-stone of experience to bigger international meets, or else as a high-point of their international career. Some of our readers posited that the initial reasoning might have been a lack of quality at this summer’s U.S. Open (the selection meet for the WUG’s) with many Olympians probably sitting out.
That probably has some validity to it, but it became evident that USA Swimming was receiving some push-back when they intentionally held-off on releasing the selection criteria for this meet when they published those for the other major meets coming up. This is the second time in as many weeks that USA Swimming seems to have listened, and responded, to an outcry of objections from their membership, which I think is a positive thing.
At the 2012 US Open in Indianapolis USA Swimming will be selecting a team to compete in the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia. The selection for the World University Games will be for a team of up to 26 men and 26 women. Not 13 men and 13 women as previously published.
The final team will be announced on or before September 1, 2012. To be eligible for selection to the 2013 World University Games team athletes selected must be born between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1996. In addition, eligible athletes are those, who at the time of the Games are officially registered as proceeding towards a degree or diploma at a university or similar institution whose status is recognized by the appropriate national academic authority. Former students of the institutions mentioned, who have obtained their academic degree or diploma in the year preceding the World University Games (2012-2013 school year), will be considered for the team, subject to FISU eligibility rules.
Good move on USA Swimming’s behalf. This meet should have a full squad representing team USA as we have for the last 30+ years.