A bold shift is coming to USA Swimming. The organization plans to introduce a Short Course World Championships selection meet in short course meters (SCM) during fall 2026, signaling a major change in how teams are chosen. This was announced by USA Swimming CEO Kevin Ring in an interview with SwimSwam, where Ring confirmed the plan and hinted that more details will be unveiled in January.
During SwimSwam’s podcast with Ring, editor Braden Keith posed a question about using short-course times to select squads for short-course championships. Ring answered affirmatively, stating, “Yes. We are going to do a short course event in the fall of 2026.” He added that this decision reflects the evolving landscape of the sport: “We recognize the importance of what that is, and that is one of those ‘things are changing, we need to make sure we change with them.’”
This proposed selection meet would mark a departure from the previous method. In 2024, selections were based on long-course meters (LCM) performances from July 2023 through August 2024, with athletes required to be members of the current USA Swimming National Team. The new approach would prioritize SCM performances, aligning selection with the way many swimmers train and compete in short course contexts.
The move isn’t without controversy. In past short-course Worlds rosters, top SCM performers were often left out in favor of athletes with stronger long-course times. For example, in 2021 Coleman Stewart held the SCM World Record in the men’s 100 back but was not selected, a decision that favored swimmers with faster LCM results. Beata Nelson, a leading SCM backstroker and American Record holder in the 100 IM, was also omitted from the 2021 and 2022 Short Course Worlds rosters despite available spots in events like the 100 IM and 200 IM.
Proponents argue that a dedicated SCM selection meet would broaden opportunities for short-course specialists, who form the core of American training and competition. It would also help ensure that the fastest swimmers in each event earn spots on the team. Beyond symbolism, the new format would create a domestic racing platform on U.S. soil, complementing the typical annual appearance at long-course Nationals/Trials, and would mirror how other countries structure their SC World Team selections.
Athletes who earn roster spots typically receive prize money as well. In 2024, the top eight finishers in each event earned prize money, starting at $10,000 for a win and scaling down to $2,000 for 8th place. Notably, Gretchen Walsh amassed a substantial prize total in Budapest, aided by world-record bonuses.
Budapest 2024 was a standout edition, with 30 world records set across six days, underscoring the rapid pace and high-level competition of short-course swimming. The 2026 SC Worlds are scheduled for Beijing, China, December 1–6, at the iconic “Cube” venue that hosted the 2008 Olympics, where Michael Phelps claimed eight gold medals.
The full podcast with Ring is expected to drop the day after this article.
Thought-provoking questions to consider: Do you think a short-course selection meet will better identify the fastest SCM swimmers, or will it disadvantage athletes who excel in LCM but struggle in SCM? Should the U.S. selection criteria weight SCM performance equally with LCM results, or maintain a hybrid approach that accounts for both formats? Share your views in the comments.
