FINA has posted the 2012 Olympic Times standards, along with a comparison of the qualifying marks versus the last 4 Olympic Games.
In general, the women’s standards have dropped much more than the men’s, which parallels the world of swimming where advancement in the female side of the sport seems to be slightly outpacing the men’s.
For convenience, I have highlighted this year’s standard in blue.
Olympic qualifying guide:
The “Olympic Qualifying Times” is equivalent to the NCAA “A” Time Standard. Swimmers who achieve this time at an official FINA qualifying event (which begin January 1, 2012) automatically qualify for the Olympics, with the caveat that each National Federation may only send two competitors per event, assuming both have the automatic OQT.
If a Nation does not have two swimmers in an event with the OQT, they may enter one swimmer with either an automatic Olympic Qualifying Time, or a provisional FINA/Olympic Invitational Time, which is similar to an NCAA “B” cut. Once all automatically qualified swimmers have been entered into the meet, FINA will begin to invite provisional qualifiers until they have reached the assigned quota of 900 total swimmers (including relay-only swimmers). These swimmers will be invited in order of the number of FINA Points that their qualifying time is worth.
If you have any questions about the qualifying, please post them below, and we can discuss!
See Also: World Championships 2011 Qualifying Times
Women’s standards
| Women | Olympic Qualifying Times | Difference | FINA/Olympic Invitation Times | Difference | |
| 50 Freestyle | 2000 | 25.97 | 27.27 | ||
| 2004 | 25.64 | 0.33 | 26.92 | 0.35 | |
| 2008 | 25.43 | 0.21 | 26.32 | 0.60 | |
| 2012 | 25.27 | 0.16 | 25.76 | 0.56 | |
| 100 Freestyle | 2000 | 56.03 | 58.83 | ||
| 2004 | 55.58 | 0.45 | 58.36 | 0.47 | |
| 2008 | 55.24 | 0.34 | 57.17 | 1.19 | |
| 2012 | 54.57 | 0.67 | 56.54 | 0.63 | |
| 200 Freestyle | 2000 | 2:01.02 | 2:07.07 | ||
| 2004 | 2:00.07 | 0.95 | 2:06.07 | 1.00 | |
| 2008 | 1:59.29 | 0.78 | 2:03.47 | 2.60 | |
| 2012 | 1:58.33 | 0.96 | 2:02.68 | 0.79 | |
| 400 Freestyle | 2000 | 4:13.81 | 4:26.50 | ||
| 2004 | 4:11.60 | 2.21 | 4:24.18 | 2.32 | |
| 2008 | 4:11.26 | 0.34 | 4:20.05 | 4.13 | |
| 2012 | 4:09.35 | 1.91 | 4:19.68 | 0.37 | |
| 800 Freestyle | 2000 | 8:40.31 | 9:06.33 | ||
| 2004 | 8:36.94 | 3.37 | 9:02.79 | 3.54 | |
| 2008 | 8:35.98 | 0.96 | 8:54.04 | 8.75 | |
| 2012 | 8:33.84 | 2.14 | 8:54.04 | 0.00 | |
| 100 Backstroke | 2000 | 1:03.25 | 1:06.41 | ||
| 2004 | 1:02.42 | 0.83 | 1:05.54 | 0.87 | |
| 2008 | 1:01.70 | 0.72 | 1:03.86 | 1.68 | |
| 2012 | 1:00.82 | 0.88 | 1:03.11 | 0.75 | |
| 200 Backstroke | 2000 | 2:14.52 | 2:21.25 | ||
| 2004 | 2:13.58 | 0.94 | 2:20.26 | 0.99 | |
| 2008 | 2:12.73 | 0.85 | 2:17.38 | 2.88 | |
| 2012 | 2:10.84 | 1.89 | 2:15.52 | 1.86 | |
| 100 Breaststroke | 2000 | 1:10.21 | 1:13.72 | ||
| 2004 | 1:09.85 | 0.36 | 1:13.34 | 0.38 | |
| 2008 | 1:09.01 | 0.84 | 1:11.43 | 1.91 | |
| 2012 | 1:08.49 | 0.52 | 1:09.98 | 1.45 | |
| 200 Breaststroke | 2000 | 2:29.91 | 2:37.41 | ||
| 2004 | 2:28.21 | 1.70 | 2:35.62 | 1.79 | |
| 2008 | 2:28.21 | 0.00 | 2:33.40 | 2.22 | |
| 2012 | 2:26.89 | 1.32 | 2:32.15 | 1.25 | |
| 100 Butterfly | 2000 | 1:00.71 | 1:03.71 | ||
| 2004 | 59.67 | 1.04 | 1:02.65 | 1.06 | |
| 2008 | 59.35 | 0.32 | 1:01.43 | 1.22 | |
| 2012 | 58.70 | 0.65 | 1:00.87 | 0.56 | |
| 200 Butterfly | 2000 | 2:13.05 | 2:19.70 | ||
| 2004 | 2:11.20 | 1.85 | 2:17.76 | 1.94 | |
| 2008 | 2:10.84 | 0.36 | 2:15.42 | 2.34 | |
| 2012 | 2:08.95 | 1.89 | 2:14.00 | 1.42 | |
| 200 I.M. | 2000 | 2:16.75 | 2:23.59 | ||
| 2004 | 2:15.27 | 1.48 | 2:22.03 | 1.56 | |
| 2008 | 2:15.27 | 0.00 | 2:19.97 | 2.06 | |
| 2012 | 2:13.36 | 1.91 | 2:16.98 | 2.99 | |
| 400 I.M | 2000 | 4:47.55 | 5:01.93 | ||
| 2004 | 4:46.42 | 1.13 | 5:00.74 | 1.19 | |
| 2008 | 4:45.08 | 1.34 | 4:55.06 | 5.68 | |
| 2012 | 4:41.75 | 3.33 | 4:52.59 | 2.47 |
Men’s standards
| Men | Olympic Qualifying Times | Difference | FINA/Olympic Invitation Times | Difference | |
| 50 Freestyle | 2000 | 22.75 | 23.89 | ||
| 2004 | 22.51 | 0.24 | 23.64 | 0.25 | |
| 2008 | 22.35 | 0.16 | 23.13 | 0.51 | |
| 2012 | 22.11 | 0.24 | 22.73 | 0.40 | |
| 100 Freestyle | 2000 | 50.09 | 52.59 | ||
| 2004 | 49.66 | 0.43 | 52.14 | 0.45 | |
| 2008 | 49.23 | 0.43 | 50.95 | 1.19 | |
| 2012 | 48.82 | 0.41 | 50.93 | 0.02 | |
| 200 Freestyle | 2000 | 1:49.83 | 1:55.32 | ||
| 2004 | 1:49.60 | 0.23 | 1:55.08 | 0.24 | |
| 2008 | 1:48.72 | 0.88 | 1:52.53 | 2.55 | |
| 2012 | 1:47.82 | 0.90 | 1:50.76 | 1.77 | |
| 400 Freestyle | 2000 | 3:54.10 | 4:04.81 | ||
| 2004 | 3:52.01 | 2.09 | 4:03.61 | 1.20 | |
| 2008 | 3:49.96 | 2.05 | 3:58.01 | 5.60 | |
| 2012 | 3:48.92 | 1.04 | 3:58.01 | 0.00 | |
| 1500 Freestyle | 2000 | 15:26.05 | 16:12.35 | ||
| 2004 | 15:14.43 | 11.62 | 16:05.15 | 7.20 | |
| 2008 | 15:13.16 | 1.27 | 15:45.12 | 20.03 | |
| 2012 | 15:11.83 | 1.33 | 15:45.12 | 0.00 | |
| 100 Backstroke | 2000 | 55.91 | 58.71 | ||
| 2004 | 55.63 | 0.28 | 58.41 | 0.30 | |
| 2008 | 55.14 | 0.49 | 57.07 | 1.34 | |
| 2012 | 54.40 | 0.74 | 56.40 | 0.67 | |
| 200 Backstroke | 2000 | 2:01.21 | 2:07.27 | ||
| 2004 | 2:00.20 | 1.01 | 2:06.21 | 1.06 | |
| 2008 | 1:59.72 | 0.48 | 2:03.91 | 2.30 | |
| 2012 | 1:58.48 | 1.24 | 2:01.53 | 2.38 | |
| 100 Breaststroke | 2000 | 1:02.51 | 1:05.64 | ||
| 2004 | 1:01.92 | 0.59 | 1:05.02 | 0.62 | |
| 2008 | 1:01.57 | 0.35 | 1:03.72 | 1.30 | |
| 2012 | 1:00.79 | 0.78 | 1:03.61 | 0.11 | |
| 200 Breaststroke | 2000 | 2:15.36 | 2:22.13 | ||
| 2004 | 2:14.20 | 1.16 | 2:20.91 | 1.22 | |
| 2008 | 2:13.69 | 0.51 | 2:18.37 | 2.54 | |
| 2012 | 2:11.74 | 1.95 | 2:18.24 | 0.13 | |
| 100 Butterfly | 2000 | 53.90 | 56.60 | ||
| 2004 | 53.49 | 0.41 | 56.16 | 0.44 | |
| 2008 | 52.86 | 0.63 | 54.71 | 1.45 | |
| 2012 | 52.36 | 0.50 | 54.09 | 0.62 | |
| 200 Butterfly | 2000 | 1:59.72 | 2:05.71 | ||
| 2004 | 1:58.63 | 1.09 | 2:04.56 | 1.15 | |
| 2008 | 1:57.67 | 0.96 | 2:01.79 | 2.77 | |
| 2012 | 1:56.86 | 0.81 | 2:01.08 | 0.71 | |
| 200 I.M. | 2000 | 2:03.14 | 2:09.30 | ||
| 2004 | 2:02.54 | 0.60 | 2:08.67 | 0.63 | |
| 2008 | 2:01.40 | 1.14 | 2:05.65 | 3.02 | |
| 2012 | 2:00.17 | 1.23 | 2:03.89 | 1.76 | |
| 400 I.M | 2000 | 4:22.82 | 4:35.86 | ||
| 2004 | 4:20.17 | 2.65 | 4:33.18 | 2.68 | |
| 2008 | 4:18.40 | 1.77 | 4:27.44 | 5.74 | |
| 2012 | 4:16.46 | 1.94 | 4:24.78 | 2.66 |
hi they, did you know about 1996 OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TIMES?
Please someone could answer my above question?
Hi!
How is the qualification system working for the countries which hasn’t got A and B time swimmers? I know that one swimmer, can be called. But if there are many candidates, which is the requirement? I mean, that if somebody wouldn’t swim in Shanghai, even can swim in London if the his/her national federation give priority to him/her? (Because maybe in Beijing, there were a requirement, that those swimmers can swim in Beijing with “green card” that were took part in Melbourne World Championship)
When should be a swimmer register to the Fina database at least if want to take part in London Olympic Games?
Thanks very much your question in advance!
Ulle
Thanks for this; as you say, it is clear as mud at this stage! I await further clarification when you get it.
If a National Federation has one automatically qualifying female swimmer, can that Federation also enter one male swimmer with an invitation time – or will they have to wait to be invited?
This has been a point of confusion, as it appears that the rule has changed since the 2008 Olympics. Here is the current rule for London:
BL 9.3.6.5 National Federations/NOCs with no swimmers who have achieved either Standard Entry Time may enter one (1) man and one (1) woman. National Federations/NOCs with no swimmers who have achieved the “Olympic Qualifying Time,” but with one (1) or more swimmers who have achieved the “FINA/Olympic Invitation Time” and who are not invited by FINA to participate, may enter the swimmer whose performance has the highest rank according to the FINA Points Table, valid from 1 January 2012, from the results achieved in FINA-approved competitions without consideration to gender, stroke or distance.
This… Read more »
Hello,
When and where are the FINA Qualifying events for Women’s swimming for the 2012 Olympics be held?
Is the 14th FINA World Championship which is to be held in Shanghai in July 2011 serve the purpose as a FINA Qualifying Event for the Women’s swimming for the 2012 Olympics?
Thanks.
Great question.
I don’t know that an “official” list of meets where qualifying time standards can be achieved has been released yet, but I will let you know when one is put out.
In the past, times from Continental (aka Pan Pacs, Asian Games, European Championships), National Olympic Trials, and certain approved FINA International Competitions count towards qualifying. Before Beijing, there was a 16-month time period (ending a month before the Olympics) where times were counted from. I would expect a similar timetable this year, which means that the 2011 World Championship times should count towards meeting Beijing qualifying standards.
Note that for many of the swimming powers, like the US, Australia, the UK, there are many more than 1… Read more »
Hello ,
fina mistaken this of course , they encountered this records because they took the percentage of 1000 swimmers in all races by counting the suits , but the real is not like that , there is no sense to drop the 50 free by 0.4 of a second this is complete madness .
they have mistaken , they should have counted the percentage after the suit where banned , they dont have to encounter rome 2009 or even beijing 2008 , the B-Cut should be worth than 2008 not better .
But prior to making the 2008 cuts (Which were made the beginning of 2007 roughly) FINA didn’t have any idea about what impact the suits would have on the times. Suits or not, the swimming world has gotten faster since 2007, don’t you think? Almost every “prior to 2008” world record was broken in 2010, and as the swimming world continues to expand, the overall times will continue to get faster. Especially “B” cuts, since these are usually only relevant to the outlier nations, which will generally show the greatest improvement from 2008-2012.
I do agree that they may have overestimated their cuts though, especially on the automatic qualifying side. It will be interesting to see once we get through… Read more »
If U.S. Olympic Trials are anything like Nationals this year, we are in trouble. In the men’s 100 free, Lochte got second in 48.83, 0.01 off the cut; Lezak would end up going 48.47 at Pan Pacs. Ditto 200 fly; only Phelps broke 1:57 at Nationals, thought Clary would go on to swim the necessary times at Pan Pacs. The worst is the 200 breast; other than Shanteau, no American broke 2:12 this year. Elliott Keefer is 28th in the world at 2:12.09; Scott Spann is 29th at 2:12.15. Worst of all, both of these were PRELIM times. By 2012, I do expect Keefer and Spann around the 2:10 mark, likely under, and I think there can be many under… Read more »
No kidding. It might take a lot more of a taper than some of the swimmers want to make the Olympics. The good news is that if the USA is having that much trouble getting in, then the rest of the world likely will as well.