National and International Championships

U.S. Masters Swimming holds two national championship pool meets each year. The spring championships are typically held in April or May and are contested in a short course venue. The summer championships are typically held in July or August and are contested in a long course venue. Historically, FINA sponsors the Masters world championship long course meet in odd-numbered years, and UANA sponsors the Pan American championships in even-numbered years.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the schedule. 2021 USMS Spring and Summer Nationals have been postponed to July 21-25 and October 6-10, respectively. The FINA World Masters Championships and UANA Pan Am Masters Championships will not be held in 2021. FINA World Masters Championships in Kyushu, Japan has been rescheduled to May 31 - June 9, 2022. UANA Pan Am Masters Championships in Medellin, Colombia has been rescheduled to July 21-28, 2022. 

National Qualifying Times

USMS members of all abilities, from beginners to Olympians, are welcome to participate in USMS National Championship events. ANY member can enter up to three individual events without meeting the National Qualifying Times. Swimmers who wish to enter more than three events must meet the NQTs for those additional events. Here are frequently asked questions regarding our National Qualifying Times.

Bidding to Host USMS National Championship Events

All groups or facilities interested in bidding to host a USMS National Championship should request a bid packet and application from the Championship Committee Chair via email or by phone at 510-324-6729. The Championship Committee selects USMS National Championship hosts and serves in an advisory capacity to the hosts of these marquee events. We plan to accept bids for 2023 championships from September through December 1, 2021. The updated bid materials will be posted on this page by September 1. For reference from the previous bid cycle, our introductory letter has more information about the bidding process, as does this FAQ document.