USA Swimming has released the selection criteria for this summer’s World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships, which take place in Otopeni, Romania, from August 19 to 24.
The 2025 U.S. Nationals serves as the qualification meet for the U.S. World Junior Championship team. The meet takes place in Indianapolis, Ind., from June 3-7 and is also the selection meet for the U.S. World Championship team. Any junior swimmers selected to the U.S. roster for the senior World Championships in Singapore are ineligible for selection to the World Junior team.
The maximum roster size for the World Junior Championship is 26 girls and 26 boys, though USA Swimming is not obligated to reach the maximum roster size for either gender. Below is how USA Swimming has determined the priority order for filling out the roster.
U.S. Roster Priorities for World Junior Team Selection:
- Priority #1: Includes the four best-finishing available swimmers from the finals of the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle events, and the best-finishing available swimmer in all other Olympic events
- Priority #2: Includes the second-best finishing available swimmer from finals of all individual Olympic events, except the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle
- Priority #3: Includes the best finishing available swimmer from the finals of the 50-meter breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly
- Priority #4: Includes the fifth-best finishing available swimmer from the finals in the 100-meter freestyle.
USA Swimming will first name all priority #1 swimmers to the team, then the priority #2 swimmers. If the roster reaches the athlete cap before all priority #2 swimmers are added, then the organization will add swimmers within the priority based on “the highest percentage of “A” standard for the Individual Olympic Event for which they qualify for selection until a maximum of 26 swimmers for that gender are selected to the team.” This is the same process for selecting priority #3 swimmers for the team if the athlete cap is reached while adding these swimmers.
If it’s necessary to break a tie while using the highest percentage of the “A” standard to name swimmers to the team, then USA Swimming will select whichever swimmer with the highest AQUA points in their respective event. USA Swimming details further tie breaking procedures in the official selection procedures.
Like the World Championships, the World Junior Championships feature the 50s of stroke, which are not an Olympic event. There are two ways to earn a roster spot in these events. First, USA Swimming offers the event to the available swimmer selected in priority #3. Second, the organization offers the available swimmer named to the team in priority #1 in the corresponding 100 of stroke the spot. If there are no swimmers selected using priority #3 criteria, the opportunity goes to the two available swimmers from priority #1 and #2.
USA Swimming will announce the official U.S. roster for the 2025 World Junior Championships on or before June 21, 2025.
i fear the selection criteria for the main target meet next year (pan pacs) will lock out a lot of our elite juniors (who might need another year of development) from senior level international competition until 2027 — in particular on the mens side…
Is there an Open Water Junior World or equivalent this year?
No, there was one last year. Not sure if there’s a plan to take a team to a World Cup or something.
I think I’ll just wait for the list rather than try to figure it all out, rules-wise
— too old; too tired; too many laps (60) today
Congrats. I am also too old and too tired, but you beat me by 60 laps.