On Monday, the Olympic qualifying times for the Paris 2024 games were released by FINA, and one thing we noticed was that the Olympic Qualifying Times (OQT) and the Olympic Consideration Times (OCT) were much closer together than they were in the past. This is largely due to the fact that the OCTs got significantly faster compared to previous years.
For the Rio 2016 Olympic games, the OQTs were around 3.5% faster than the OCTs. In Tokyo, the gap narrowed to around 3.0%. However, for Paris, the interval between the OQTs and the OCTs was just 0.5%, a significant drop from what the average distances between the OQTs and OCTs had been in the past.
FINA likely made these changes in part to accommodate the smaller athlete quota for Paris 2024. While a maximum of 878 swimmers were allowed to compete at the Tokyo games, only 858 will be allowed in Paris.
But they are also more reflective of how “B” standards are actually used. Most countries don’t submit entries for athletes with “B” standards, and of those that do, very few are selected because such a huge number of swimming’s qualifying slots go to Universality entries – which under current qualifying procedures hold a higher priority than individual “B” standards.
As current rules stand, every event allows two entries with the OQT from each country. If a country does not have any swimmers with the OQT, one entry with the OCT is permitted. If a country does not have any swimmers with the OQT or OCT for any event, they are awarded a Universality place, where they are allowed to enter one man and one woman in one event each regardless of time. Because the OCTs are a lot faster than they were in the past, we might be seeing a lot more countries qualifying via Universality places rather than the OCT.
Rio 2016:
| Olympic Qualifying Time (Men) | Olympic Consideration Time (Men) | % Difference | Event | % Difference | Olympic Qualifying Time (Women) | Olympic Consideration Time (Women) |
| 22.27 | 23.05 | 3.50246969% | 50 free | 3.52056962% | 25.28 | 26.17 |
| 48.99 | 50.70 | 3.490508267% | 100 free | 3.509094249% | 54.43 | 56.34 |
| 1:47.97 | 1:51.75 | 3.500972492% | 200 free | 3.50537996% | 1:58.96 | 2:03.13 |
| 3:50.44 | 3:58.51 | 3.501996181% | 400 free | 3.50088325% | 4:09.08 | 4:17.80 |
| N/A | N/A | 800 free | 3.500204292% | 8:33.97 | 8:51.96 | |
| 15:14.77 | 15:46.79 | 3.500333417% | 1500 free | N/A | N/A | |
| 54.36 | 56.26 | 3.495217071% | 100 back | 3.502074689% | 1:00.25 | 1:02.36 |
| 1:58.22 | 2:02.36 | 3.501945525% | 200 back | 3.499234303% | 2:10.60 | 2:15.17 |
| 1:00.57 | 1:02.69 | 3.500082549% | 100 breast | 3.492999263% | 1:07.85 | 1:10.22 |
| 2:11.66 | 2:16.27 | 3.49384779% | 200 breast | 3.498026405% | 2:26.94 | 2:32.08 |
| 52.36 | 54.19 | 3.495034377% | 100 fly | 3.506979911% | 58.74 | 1:00.80 |
| 1:56.97 | 2:01.06 | 3.496623066% | 200 fly | 3.502667595% | 2:09.33 | 2:13.86 |
| 2:00.28 | 2:04.39 | 3.417026937% | 200 IM | 3.500670341% | 2:14.26 | 2:18.96 |
| 4:16.71 | 4:25.69 | 3.498110709% | 400 IM | 3.499611938% | 4:43.46 | 4:53.38 |
| 3.491859082% | Average % Difference | 3.502953524% |
Tokyo 2020:
| Olympic Qualifying Time (Men) | Olympic Consideration Time (Men) | % Difference | Event | % Difference | Olympic Qualifying Time (Women) | Olympic Consideration Time (Women) |
| 22.01 | 22.67 | 2.998636983% | 50 free | 2.987484861% | 24.77 | 25.51 |
| 48.57 | 50.03 | 3.005970764% | 100 free | 2.997425524% | 54.38 | 56.01 |
| 1:47.02 | 1:50.23 | 2.999439357% | 200 free | 3.001364256% | 1:57.28 | 2:00.80 |
| 3:46.78 | 3:53.58 | 2.99850075% | 400 free | 3.001210165% | 4:07.90 | 4:15.34 |
| 7:54.31 | 8:08.54 | 3.000147583% | 800 free | 2.999844164% | 8:33.36 | 8:48.76 |
| 15:00.99 | 15:28.02 | 3.000033297% | 1500 free | 2.999879037% | 16:32.04 | 17:01.80 |
| 53.85 | 55.47 | 3.008356546% | 100 back | 3.004149378% | 1:00.25 | 1:02.06 |
| 1:57.50 | 2:01.03 | 3.004255319% | 200 back | 2.998696219% | 2:10.39 | 2:14.30 |
| 59.93 | 1:01.73 | 3.003504088% | 100 breast | 2.996868943% | 1:07.07 | 1:09.08 |
| 2:10.35 | 2:14.26 | 2.999616417% | 200 breast | 3.003023639% | 2:45.52 | 149.89 |
| 51.96 | 53.52 | 3.002309469% | 100 fly | 3.004143646% | 57.92 | 2:29.66 |
| 1:56.48 | 1:59.97 | 2.9962225275% | 200 fly | 2.9977419615% | 2:08.43 | 2:12.28 |
| 1:59.67 | 2:03.26 | 2.999916437% | 200 IM | 3.002414001% | 2:12.56 | 2:16.54 |
| 4:15.84 | 4:21.46 | 2.196685428% | 400 IM | 3.0001472014% | 4:38.53 | 4:4t6.89 |
| 2.943828212% | Average % Difference | 2.999694129% |
Paris 2024:
| Olympic Qualifying Time (Men) | Olympic Consideration Time (Men) | % Difference | Event | % Difference | Olympic Qualifying Time (Women) | Olympic Consideration Time (Women) |
| 21.96 | 22.07 | 0.5009107468% | 50 free | 0.4858299595% | 24.70 | 24.82 |
| 48.34 | 48.58 | 0.4964832437% | 100 free | 0.5036373811% | 53.61 | 53.88 |
| 1:46.26 | 1:46.79 | 0.4987765857% | 200 free | 0.5031553812% | 1:57.26 | 1:57.85 |
| 3:46.78 | 3:47.91 | 0.4982802716% | 400 free | 0.5002016942% | 4:07.90 | 4:09.14 |
| 7:51.65 | 7:54.01 | 0.5003710378% | 800 free | 0.499299402% | 8:26.71 | 8:29.24 |
| 15:00.99 | 15:05.49 | 0.4994506043% | 1500 free | 0.4903497154% | 16:09.09 | 16:13.94 |
| 53.74 | 54.01 | 0.5024190547% | 100 back | 0.5000833472% | 59.99 | 1:00.29 |
| 1:57.50 | 1:58.09 | 0.5021276596% | 200 back | 0.4985044865% | 2:10.39 | 2:11.04 |
| 59.49 | 59.79 | 0.5042864347% | 100 breast | 0.494085941% | 1:06.79 | 1:07.12 |
| 2:09.68 | 2:10.33 | 0.5012338063% | 200 breast | 0.5003126954% | 2:23.91 | 2:24.63 |
| 51.67 | 51.93 | 0.5031933424% | 100 fly | 0.5006906077% | 57.92 | 58.21 |
| 1:55.78 | 1:56.36 | 0.5009500777% | 200 fly | 0.4983259363% | 2:08.43 | 2:09.07 |
| 1:57.94 | 1:58.53 | 0.5002543666% | 200 IM | 0.502015669% | 2:11.47 | 2:12.13 |
| 4:12.50 | 4:13.76 | 0.499009901% | 400 IM | 0.4990485765% | 4:38.53 | 4:39.92 |
| 0.5005533666% | Average % Difference | 0.4982529138% |
The women’s 200 BR OCT has gone from 2:32 in Rio to 2:24 in Paris. Based on Tokyo results only the top 14 swimmers at the games would even make the new OQT of 2:23.91. I see many smaller countries being locked out of the event and there probably can’t even be a prelim-semi-final. Why would they do this?
I think there is a sense globally that swimmers with “B” standards automatically go if their country submits them. In practice, however, very few “B” standard swimmers are taken in each event, because Universality takes up such a huge number of qualification slots. Universality holds a higher priority in the selection than do “B” standards.
The change actually brings the standards more in line with the practical application of standards in the past. All of this in addition tot he fact that many, many countries don’t even enter athletes with “B” standards.
Universality only allows a single male and female athlete, period. It’s typically used in events like the 50 free. I can’t see any country using their single universality slot for a longer event. Even the B cut would eliminate most swimmers. For example, looking at the SEA Games, not a single B cut was achieved on the new standard. Unless we see some huge time drops many countries will be eliminated from events like the 200 breast and relighted to a single universality skit in the 59 free. Would have made more sense to leave the B cut or drop it by 1-2 seconds and cap the event like they do at NCAAs.
Only five under the Paris OQT at Budapest WCs.
We all know it’s a small number of swimmers that is really likely to make the team. The benefit of having a larger number is more interest in swimming. If a kid down the block or at a local swim club gets a trials cut, it’s a big deal. Might even get a tattoo of the Olympic rings. The community holding the event, gets to cash in and there is a lot of money to be made by others. Taking a small number only hurts swimming. There are a lot of kids with a trial cut focus but no real chance to make the team. This could drive them harder to push for another year. Consequently you just told 800… Read more »
Finally!
Would love to see stats on how many swimmers actually went to the last 2 Olympics on OCT’s and how many on Universality. Especially since OCT’s only get looked at after Universality (if I understand correctly). Also would love to see stats on how many people take the step up from universality one Olympics to the next Olympics qualifying OQT.
FINA likely made these changes to accommodate the smaller athlete quota for Paris 2024. While a maximum of 878 swimmers were allowed to compete at the Tokyo games, only 858 will be allowed in Paris.
Can’t wait to see the swimswam article that somehow tests this against 2016 & 2020, if that drop would actually happen if they used the same differential.. seems awful tight to drop a mere 30 athletes.