Open Water & Long Distance All-Stars

Each year, the Long Distance Committee selects an All-Star team. After the team is selected, the National Office sends letters of congratulations to the swimmers and a USMS Sponsor awards the All-Stars with a gift.

2023 All-Stars
2022 All-Stars
2021 All-Stars
2020 All-Stars - due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no All-Stars were awarded
2019 All-Stars
2018 All-Stars
2017 All-Stars
2016 All-Stars
2015 All-Stars
2014 All-Stars
2013 All-Stars
2012 All-Stars
2011 All-Stars
2010 All-Stars
2009 All-Stars
2008 All-Stars
2007 All-Stars
2006 All-Stars
2005 All-Stars
2004 All-Stars
2003 All-Stars
2002 All-Stars
2001 All-Stars
2000 All-Stars
1999 All-Stars
1998 All-Stars
1997 All-Stars
1996 All-Stars
1995 All-Stars

All-Star Requirements

To become an All-Star, a swimmer must accumulate the highest number of points in a series of national championships held throughout the year. Ties for All-Star status are allowed.

  • Long Distance National Championships Recognition Updates:

    Virtual Championships Series Challenge: As an acknowledgement of pandemic effects continuing into 2022, a USMS member may earn a virtual series Challenge recognition patch by successfully completing three or more of the five 2022 virtual championship events (1-Hour, 5K, 10K, 3000-yard, 6000-yard).

    All-Star Recognition: The Long Distance Committee will be naming a Long Distance All-Star team in 2022. To be considered for this recognition, a USMS member needs to complete a minimum of three Long Distance National Championship events in 2022: one Virtual Championship event, one Open Water National Championship (OWNC) and one additional event that may be either a virtual championship event or OWNC.

Point Awards

Points are awarded for 1st through 10th place as follows:

1st place = 11 points
2nd place = 9 points
3rd place = 8 points
4th place = 7 points
5th place = 6points
6th place = 5points
7th place = 4 points
8th place = 3 points
9th place = 2 points
10th place = 1 point

1995 Event Requirements

All-Star status was determined in 1995 by accumulating points in the individual Long Distance Championships plus finishes in "mile" events in the pool according to the Top Ten list. To qualify for All-Star consideration, swimmers needed to swim in only one event.

1996 & 1997 Event Requirements

In 1996 and 1997, swimmers received points from the LD National Championships only. To qualify for All-Star consideration, swimmers needed to swim in only one event.

Event Requirements Since 1998

At Convention in 1997, the LD Committee decided that the requirements needed to be more challenging. Effective for 1998:

"to be considered for the Long Distance All Star Team, a swimmer must compete in at least three National Championship Long Distance Events, of which one must be an open water event and one must be a postal event."