AAU Opens Applications For National Team, Will Compete in Serbia and China

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is putting together a National Team that will compete and represent the United States at two international meets this fall.

Any swimmer with USA Swimming times can apply, they would just have to join the AAU in order for their insurance to be covered for the trip.

This year the AAU U.S. National Team will compete at two swim meets:

  • ISF U15 World Sport Games in Belgrade, Serbia (September 11-18)
  • ISF U18 Gymnasiade in Jinjiang, China (October 16-22)

The first meet will be for swimmers born in 2006-2008 and the second meet will be for athletes born in 2003-2005.

To apply you can fill out the application here and email it to the National Team leader Mary Ruffin here. The deadline to submit applications is July 28th at 8 pm, U.S. Central Time.

Each delegation can enter up to two swimmers in each individual event and one relay in each relay event and there is no limit to how many events a single athlete can compete in. 

Therefore, the selection criteria will choose the athletes with the top two fastest times in each event. Relays will be chosen based on the fastest combination of athletes who applied and coaches are selected based on the number of swimmers who make the team.

The organization attended the 2019 International School Sport Federation World Championships in Brazil where a team of 16 swimmers represented the U.S. 400 swimmers from 18 countries competed in the meet. You can find the meet results here.

The AAU U.S. team at that meet included UCSD rising junior Lance Freiman, Princeton rising senior Jack Warden, and Brown rising sophomore Marcus Lee.

Ruffin described the 2019 ISF World Championships as “a mini Olympics.”

“Teams were treated with such respect and getting to meet swimmers from around the world was fantastic.”

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Mrs. Pillsy
2 years ago

Very exciting that the AAU is participating again in the World School Games in China and Serbia. My son attended as a 15 year old when the team went to Rio in 2019 and it was an amazing experience! To meet swimmers from all over the world and race with them was an experience he will never forget! Thank you to ISCA and AAU for making this happen in 2019 and 2021! Go Team USA!

Guerra
2 years ago

I wonder if the AAU board and executives treat their membership like garbage and commit insurance fraud against them like USA Swimming does?

Coach
Reply to  Guerra
2 years ago

Or ostracize whistle blowers?

Guerra
Reply to  Coach
2 years ago

👍

Lioba
2 years ago

We are so excited that AAU is sending swim delegations to those two outstanding ISF (International School Sports Federation) events this year ! My daughter was part of the 2019 AAU National Team representing the USA at the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center in Rio DeJaneiro, Brazil. It was a life changing experience for her at only 14 years old (and indeed for me, her Mom, as well, staying behind and watching the competition on live stream). The wonderful thing with these events are, that you need to swim somewhat fast, however you do not need to be an Olympian or Olympic Trials qualifier to participate. During the trip my daughter realized that she can compete on the International Stage at… Read more »

WahooSwimFan
2 years ago

I’m surprised AAU still exist – I though USA Swimming replaced it.

Swimmingly
2 years ago

Help me understand what gap that USA Swimming and NCSAs aren’t covering that AAU will do better?

I’ve some bball experience with the AAU – a kid of mine played – and the AAU operates like an NGO. Like how USA swimming feels like it’s becoming.

I’m skeptical but open to possibility the AAU might offer an alternative, kinda like the Y does

Seth
Reply to  Swimmingly
2 years ago

From what I am aware, AAU is a very small compared to what it used to be. After 1980 when USA swimming was formed AAU has existed because it didn’t close.

AAU just stays open to allow a small amount of competitions but will never compete with any larger organizations.

This applies to swimming.

Mary
Reply to  Seth
2 years ago

AAU is the connection to the International School Sports Federation. Together with ISCA they brought these events to the swimming world in the US. They worked to select a team to go to RIO in 2019 which was a success and the plan is to grow them as we go forward.
The events that ISF puts forth have been around since 1995 and bring another tier of competition to the international stage. Swimmers from USA swimming, YMCA, YWCA and AAU swimming attend these events.

About Annika Johnson

Annika Johnson

Annika came into the sport competitively at age eight, following in the footsteps of her twin sister and older brother. The sibling rivalry was further fueled when all three began focusing on distance freestyle, forcing the family to buy two lap counters. Annika is a three-time Futures finalist in the 200 …

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