USA Swimming has released the selection document for the 2013 World Championships roster. The meet will be held from June 25th through June 29th at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis.
See the full list of selection criteria here, including all of the “what if” details.
Under most normal circumstances, the key paragraphs are below:
i. Priority #1. Shall include both (i) the four highest- place finishers who are Available Swimmers at the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle Events, (the first and second place finisher in each the 100 and 200 meter freestyle Events will swim the Event at the Championships), and (ii) the first Available Swimmer at the Qualifying Competition in each of the individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle Events.
ii. Priority #2. Shall be the second highest place finisher who is an Available Swimmer in each of the individual Olympic Events other than the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle Events.
iii. Priority #3. Shall be the first highest place finisher who is an Available Swimmer in the Non- Olympic Events. Athletes will be World Ranked based on their A Finals time at the Qualifying Competition integrated into the World Rankings in each non-Olympic Event from January 1, 2013 through June 17, 2013. Athletes will be considered for selection based on Available spots on the Team for each gender. No more than one Available Swimmer may be selected for the Non- Olympic Events. Additional swimmers in Non-Olympic Events will be selected based on Section III.B. from swimmers already on the Team provided they have met the FINA “A time standard.”
iv. Priority #4. Shall be the fifth highest place finisher Available Swimmer during the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle Events.
v. Priority #5. Shall be the sixth highest place finisher Available Swimmer during the Qualifying Competition in each of the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle Events.
In summary, the order of selection is (briefly) assuming they meet all FINA standards:
- 4 highest finishers in 100 and 200 freestyles, 1st in Olympic events
- 2nd place in Olympic events
- Winner in non-Olympic events
- 5th finisher in 100 and 200 free
- 6th finisher in 100 and 200 free
This is a bit of a surprise; given the new non-Olympic events, there is a possibility that USA Swimming will bump against the 26-men and 26-women cap (though still, not a probability). With this set of criteria, winners of non-Olympic events will be prioritized ahead of the extra relay swimmers. Only one swimmer per non-Olympic event will be selected specifically for that event. That’s a radical shift in philosophy after just two years ago, when filling these non-Olympic events were largely an afterthought.
To fill the second spot in non-Olympic events. athletes will be chosen based on the following criteria:
(ii) Priority #2 – The first opportunity will be given to those athletes who have qualified for the Team as Priority #1 in the Events listed below, which is effectively as it has been in the past:
First Offer to Those on Team In: Non-Olympic Event
Men’s/Women’s 100 Butterfly for Men’s/Women’s 50 Butterfly
Men’s/Women’s 100 Backstroke for Men’s/Women’s 50 Backstroke
Men’s/Women’s 100 Breaststroke for Men’s/Women’s 50 Breaststroke
Women’s 800 Freestyle for Women’s 1500 Freestyle
*Men’s 400 and 1500 Freestyle for Men’s 800 Freestyle (based on highest World Ranking as of June 17, 2013)
See Also:
2013 World Championship Trials Time Standards Posted (they’re faster).
2013 World Championship Trials schedule.
FINA World Championship qualifying times.
