USA Swimming Will Conduct COVID-19 Testing On-Site At Upcoming Pro Swim Series

USA Swimming will conduct on-site testing for COVID-19 at its upcoming multi-site Pro Swim Series event.

The meet, scheduled for January 14-17, will be hosted from both San Antonio, Texas and Richmond, Va., with the Irvine, Calif., location having been dropped last week due to an extension of stay-at-home orders in Southern California.

All athletes and coaches must be tested for COVID-19 on-site on Wednesday, Jan. 13, according to the meet package, and everyone attending will also be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to arriving at the event. In addition to swimmers and coaches, this also includes any officials, staff, volunteers, etc.

The document also stipulates that any individual “flying or driving more than four hours” to the event must arrive by 10:00 p.m. on Jan. 11.

Once the meet is underway, everyone entering the venue will undergo COVID-19 thermal and questionnaire screenings each session.

The meet will also be subjected to standard doping control procedures from USADA, WADA and FINA.

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RollTide
3 years ago

I think it’s great that USA Swimming is making such an effort to host meets and make things work. That’s a lot more than some other sport governing bodies are doing

Swim Mom
3 years ago

When is psych sheet coming out?

CaO126
3 years ago

Do you know when the psych sheet will be announced?

Admin
Reply to  CaO126
3 years ago

The first draft is typically released the Friday before the meet(s).

44j
3 years ago

Im wondering if the results are going to be combined for both prelims and finals? How is it going to work qualifying for the finals?

Admin
Reply to  44j
3 years ago

As far as I can tell, it’s just going to be run, essentially, as two separate meets on the same weekend.

There’s no prize money being awarded, so while there may be some combined results put out, it’s just kind of for show. The goal is to get a relatively-safe, long course, domestic, national-caliber, racing opportunity for the most likely Olympians.

Harambe
3 years ago

Is USA Swimming gonna make people get tested if they have both shots of an mRNA vaccine? obviously not now because pros shouldn’t get it yet, but I’m curious going forward

Harambe
Reply to  Harambe
3 years ago

With that being said Pro athletes should get it as soon as they are offered. As a long dead gorilla I’m getting mine on Friday and you should too

Admin
Reply to  Harambe
3 years ago

My theories are this:

1) They don’t know yet what they’re going to do going forward, because of the constant change in the situation. USA Swimming, I think, has done a pretty good job of “reacting” in a balanced way rather than trying to map out an entire uncertain pandemic. I’m sure they’ve had conversations, but I’d bet no decisions have been made.
2) Maybe, because it’s administratively easier and requires them to receive, process, and maintain less athlete data
3) Maybe, just because it’s easier to stick a swab up everyone’s nose rather than go back and forth with paperwork.
4) Probably, because there still isn’t definitive science as to whether the vaccine is able to… Read more »

Taa
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

Anyone who comes to compete at the meet is going to be asymptomatic and you test positive for several weeks after initially contracting the virus so the testing is pretty worthless cause testing positive doesnt mean you are capable of spreading it currently. I personally think people should object to this type of testing as it just turns into an endless circle of testing. I went through this in December and caused several people to rush out and get tests which were all negative.

Really they should just tell everyone over 65 to stay home. Serious swimmers coming into a qualification meet should test about 3 weeks out and then go into some kind of lockdown/isolation until the meet occurs.… Read more »

DMSWIM
Reply to  Taa
3 years ago

I think you are making a false assumption that everyone who competes will be asymptomatic. The symptoms can very closely mirror a minor cold. Two people I know who have had it had a bit of head congestion and a headache. Throughout my career, I have swum through much worse, and swimmers with those symptoms may not realize they have it.
Second, telling everyone over 65 to stay home doesn’t keep those over 65 safe. You would have to make sure the swimmers who attended did not interact with anyone over 65 or anyone who would interact with someone over 65 for two weeks after the meet. That isn’t feasible.
I know there’s no scenario that creates zero… Read more »

313
3 years ago

Are the qualifiers for finals going to be combined between the 2 sites? Also on another note, when is phase 2 National team going to be announced? I thought January 4th??

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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