YMCA Cancels 2020 Long Course Swimming National Championships

The YMCA Long Course National Championship meet, which was scheduled for July 28th-August 1st, 2020, has been cancelled. This follows the cancellation of the Short Course National Championship, usually the more-attended of the two YMCA National Championship events, which was scheduled to be held this weekend.

“This was not an easy decision for Y-USA to make,” the email announcing the decision on Thursday read. “We recognize this will be incredibly disappointing for the athletes, teams and families who were looking forward to the Long Course competition season. We will continue to find ways to recognize and honor the achievements and hard work of athletes and teams who will not get to compete in 2020.”

Both meets were scheduled for the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, which is contracted to host 5 national championship meets between now and 2023: 2020 LC, 2021 SC, 2021 LC, 2022 SC, and 2023 LC.

The news was announced on the same day that the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships, scheduled for late June in Long Beach, California, were also cancelled. Gymnastics and swimming are the YMCA of the USA’s two primary national championship sporting events.

Last summer, the Red Bank Branch YMCA in New Jersey swept the boys’ and girls’ team titles, winning both in nailbiters: the Red Bank girls won by 8 points, while the Red Bank boys won by just half-a-point.

The YMCA Short Course National Championships became the first YMCA National Championship meet in swimming to be cancelled since 1947.

North Carolina has at least 636 confirmed coronavirus cases, including reporting their first 2 COVID-19 deaths this week. Swimmers across the country have been locked out of their pools by government stay-at-home regulations, leading to drastic disruptions in training opportunities.

 

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Steve
4 years ago

Training is impacted leading up to the event, we don’t know how long this will be impacted either. If they wait to cancel and go forward this could effect max potential times. We all want to see Dressel crush it, Doing it next year is best for all swimmers to get at top of their game and to get top world times and records.

My 12 year is impacted she was going for LCM club records, is a real bummer because these are now so tough to achieve if pools were to open back up May mid May with only couple months training.

Dryland are good but do not replace pool time, granted Dressel probably has a training location… Read more »

NICK
4 years ago

This may have to do with deposits for the pool, and getting firm commitments from Ys to show-up. A critical mass of teams is required to have a meaningful national championship, and long-course Y Nats have never been as well attended as short-course. Given the tremendous uncertainty, it is hard to see how anyone can make a firm commitment even a few months hence.

You're not paying attention
4 years ago

Once again, a lot of commenters without even the most basic, rote understanding of epidemiology and math. You should all be getting comfortable with the realization that there will be no LCM season this year. In the very best of scenarios, we all might be starting back at school on a relatively normal schedule. But this country is not acting in a way right now that will present the very best scenario as a viable reality.

SinkorSwim
Reply to  You're not paying attention
4 years ago

Fear can convince a herd to do anything or nothing. Once you control the herd, you can do anything you want.

no AIRBNBS in our future
4 years ago

I’m thankful the decision was made now. One of my kids had an international sports competition (July) for a different sport cancelled earlier this week and it was a relief. Also knowing that Y Nats isn’t happening is helpful as we were about to get sucked into that since the other event cancelled. Love Y Nats, but waiting to see whether an event is cancelled is stressful for everyone involved. A lot of planning goes into putting on and attending these events and I’d rather know now than after I’ve booked everything. Also relieves the pressure of “when will we be able to get back in the pool” for swimming. I’m keeping fingers crossed that swimmers will be able to… Read more »

Bob
4 years ago

I would not be surprised to see USA Swimming cancel the LCM championship season just as Canad did today.

run-dmc
4 years ago

If this is how the American people are going to behave, then there’s no point in planning for Tokyo 2020ne. It won’t happen.

If there is too much risk to swim on July 28th, then why would we think that there won’t be too much risk to swim in 2021?

Are people putting faith in a vaccine that is not yet available? How effective will the vaccine be? How safe will it be?

E.D
4 years ago

I feel bad for anyone who had this last long course Ynats before going off to college.

Virtus
4 years ago

This is too premature imo

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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