SWIMMING
Thirty-five (35) events are included in the program of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for Swimming:
| Men's events | Women's Events | Mixed Events |
| 50m Freestyle | 50m Freestyle | 4x100m Medley Relay |
| 100m Freestyle | 100m Freestyle | |
| 200m Freestyle | 200m Freestyle | |
| 400m Freestyle | 400m Freestyle | |
| 800m Freestyle | 800m Freestyle | |
| 1500m Freestyle | 1500m Freestyle | |
| 100m Backstroke | 100m Backstroke | |
| 200m Backstroke | 200m Backstroke | |
| 100m Breaststroke | 100m Breaststroke | |
| 200m Breaststroke | 200m Breaststroke | |
| 100m Butterfly | 100m Butterfly | |
| 200m Butterfly | 200m Butterfly | |
| 200m Individual Medley | 200m Individual Medley | |
| 400m Individual Medley | 400m Individual Medley | |
| 4x100m Freestyle Relay | 4x100m Freestyle Relay | |
| 4x200m Freestyle Relay | 4x200m Freestyle Relay | |
| 4x100m Medley Relay | 4x100m Medley Relay |
ATHLETES QUOTA
Total number of athletes for Swimming:
- Qualification Places = TBC
- Universality Places = *TBC
- Total places = 852
*It is understood that all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that enter and compete in the World Aquatics Championships will have the opportunity to compete in Paris 2024. Thus, the precise number of Universality places will not be known until a later date.
Maximum number of athletes per NOC:
| Quota per NOC | Event Specific Quota | |
| Women | Max 26 athletes |
Max 2 athletes per event Max 1 relay team per event |
| Men | Max 26 athletes |
Max 2 athletes per event Max 1 relay team per event |
NOCs without any qualified athlete or relay team may enter a maximum of two (2) athletes – one (1) man and one (1) woman (Universality Places) in one (1) event each (see section D.3. Universality places below). Two (2) athletes of the same gender entered via Universality are not permitted.
Type of Allocation of Quota Places:
- The quota place is allocated to the athlete by name in individual events.
- The quota place is allocated to the NOC in Relay events.
ATHLETE ELIGIBILITY
Compliance with the Olympic Charter and other relevant rules
All athletes must respect and comply with the provisions of the Olympic Charter currently in force, including but not limited to Rule 41 (Nationality of Competitors) and Rule 43 (World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions).
Only those athletes who respect and comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, including the conditions of participation established by the IOC, plus the rules of World Aquatics, may participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Only the athletes who are eligible to participate at the official World Aquatics competitions, in accordance with the World Aquatics General Rules, are entitled to participate in the Olympic Games.
Only athletes who have participated in the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka (JPN) or in the World Aquatics Championships 2024 Doha (QAT) will be eligible for Universality places. An athlete entering through Universality will be limited to a maximum of up to two Olympic Games in his/her career provided the athlete is not older than the age of thirty (30) as of 31st December 2024.
QUALIFICATION PATHWAY
The priority order for qualification places into the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be:
- All athletes with an Olympic Qualification Time (OQT)
- Athletes in relays (also referred to as Relay-Only Athletes)
- Universality Places
- Invited athletes who have achieved an Olympic Consideration Time (OCT)
INDIVIDUAL QUALIFICATION
Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) and Olympic Consideration Time (OCT)
For each individual event at the Olympic Games, World Aquatics will establish standard Entry Times of two (2) types: an “Olympic Qualification Time (OQT)” and an "Olympic Consideration Time (OCT),” of which the OCT shall be the easier to achieve.
Standard entry times can only be achieved in competitions approved for that purpose by World Aquatics during the qualification period from 1st March 2023 to 23rd June 2024. The list of the qualification times to be achieved by the athletes per event and per standard is set out in paragraph H. Qualification Time Standards.
World Aquatics will establish a calendar with approved qualification events for individual entries. All competitions seeking approval as qualifying events must apply to World Aquatics no later than 31st December 2023, and these requests must be prior to the first date of the respective competition. The calendar will be published on www.worldaquatics.com and updated consistently throughout the time period, with the final calendar published by 15th January 2024. The calendar will include, but shall not be limited to, events such as the World Aquatics World Championships, Continental Championships, Continental Qualification events, National Championships and Trials, though all events must submit a formal application to World Aquatics in accordance with this paragraph. All qualification events will have to be completed on or before 23rd June 2024, unless otherwise approved by World Aquatics and the IOC.
Athletes who have achieved the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT)
Athletes who equal or better the OQT in one or more individual events are automatically qualified to participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, provided that the maximum quota per event for that NOC is not exceeded.
NOCs can enter two (2) athletes in the same event, only if both athletes have equalled or bettered the OQT.
Invited athletes who have achieved an Olympic Consideration Time (OCT)
While both athletes who qualify via relays and via Universality are next in the priority order after athletes with OQTs, the OCT is addressed here due to its direct relation to the overall quota of 852 athletes in Paris 2024.
Following the end of the qualification period and in the event that the quota of 852 athletes is not reached after application of the first three categories of paragraph D: Qualification Pathway, World Aquatics will then invite athletes who have equalled or bettered an OCT, until the total quota of 852 athletes is reached.
RELAY QUALIFICATION
There shall be a maximum of sixteen (16) qualified teams in each relay event.
Each NOC may enter only one (1) team in each relay event.
Three (3) NOCs per relay event shall be qualified for the corresponding relay event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 based upon the final results achieved in their performances at the World Aquatics World Championships 2023 in Fukuoka. If there is a tie for third (3rd) place in any of the relays, all NOCs involved in the 3rd-place tie will be invited to compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The remaining thirteen (13) teams per relay event shall be the teams with the fastest times based upon the results achieved in their preliminary heat and finals performances in the World Aquatics Championships 2022 in Fukuoka (JPN) and World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha (QAT), excluding those teams already qualified in that event from the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka. If there was a tie for 3rd place in any of the relays from the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, only twelve (12) teams in that relay event after the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha (QAT) will be invited to compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
At the conclusion of the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha (QAT), if there is a tie in any of the relay events for the final place for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, all NOCs involved in the tie will conduct a head-to-head swim-off in that event to determine the final invitation. This swim-off will be conducted on a date and time that is mutually agreeable to all involved NOCs, though World Aquatics will have the final approval of this date and time.
If any of the qualified teams, both from the World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2023, or the remaining thirteen (13) teams which qualify via the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha (QAT) do not accept the invitation for participation in Paris 2024 for any reason, the next eligible team with the fastest times based upon the results achieved in their performances in the competition(s) approved by the World Aquatics Executive, will be offered the relay team place.
The relay place is allocated to the NOC.
All athletes entered in individual events can be used in relays, even if they have not achieved the OCT for the corresponding stroke and distance of the relay in which they are entered. The NOC may compose its team with additional athletes according to the formula below.
The following formula shall apply:
• One (1) Relay - two (2) additional athletes
• Two (2) Relays - four (4) additional athletes
• Three (3) Relays - six (6) additional athletes
• Four (4) Relays - eight (8) additional athletes
• Five (5) Relays - ten (10) additional athletes
• Six (6) or seven (7) Relays - twelve (12) additional athletes
If an NOC has a relay team, which has been invited to compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and does not have a sufficient number of qualified (OQT) and invited (OCT) athletes to enable the relay team to participate, notwithstanding the provisions outlined above, World Aquatics Bureau may, in its absolute discretion, and on an exceptional basis, offer additional Relay-Only athlete quota places to the NOC for the sole purpose of enabling the relay team to participate in the relevant event.
If an NOC enters Relay-Only Athletes, these athletes must swim either in the heat or final of at least one relay event. Should a Relay-Only Athlete not compete, this will lead to the disqualification of the last relay team for which he/she was eligible to compete. This is not applicable in case of a medical injury or medical emergency after confirmation from World Aquatics.
There are no longer minimum time standards necessary for Relay-only athletes due to the requirement that Relay-only athletes must compete in at least one relay event.
The NOCs must confirm to World Aquatics the participation of their qualified relay team by no later than 7th June 2024.
The NOCs must confirm their Relay-Only Athletes to World Aquatics by no later than 24th June 2024.
UNIVERSALITY PLACES (UNQUALIFIED ATHLETES)
NOCs without any qualified athlete or relay team may enter a maximum of two (2) athletes – one (1) man and one (1) woman (Universality Places) in one (1) event each. Two athletes of the same gender entered via Universality are not permitted.
NOCs with no athletes who have achieved an OQT nor any athlete invited by World Aquatics through the OCT may enter a maximum of one (1) man and one (1) woman, provided that those athletes participated in the World Aquatics Championships 2023 Fukuoka (JPN) and/or in the World Aquatics Championships 2024 Doha (QAT).
NOCs with athletes having achieved an OQT or invited by World Aquatics through the OCT in one (1) gender only may also enter one (1) universality swimmer in the other gender.
Athletes with an OCT achieved (but not invited via the OCT due to the quota being reached) may be invited through Universality Places and may be entered in up to two (2) individual events. Those athletes who do not have an OCT will be limited to enter one (1) individual event only.
As outlined in Section C, Athletes Eligibility, only athletes who have participated in the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka and/or in the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha are eligible for Universality Places. An athlete entering through Universality will be limited to a maximum of up to two Olympic Games in his/her career provided the athlete is not older than the age of thirty (30) as of 31st December 2024.
Additionally, NOCs are obligated to enter the male athlete and the female athlete who have achieved the highest World Aquatics Points Table score in any individual Olympic event, as achieved at a World Aquatics -approved qualification event during the qualification period, using the World Aquatics Points Table, 1st January 2024 edition. Exceptions will be granted only for circumstances of injury or retirement, with verification by the athlete and after review by World Aquatics, or if there are doping control violations or disciplinary actions against this athlete.
NOCs must submit their applications for Universality Places to World Aquatics for approval by 24th June 2024. World Aquatics will confirm the Universality Places to NOCs by 3rd July 2024.
CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR FINAL QUOTA PLACES
Following the end of the qualification period (23rd June 2024), World Aquatics shall assess the number of athletes having achieved the OQT, the number of Relay-Only Athletes and the number of Universality Places. In order to complete the overall athletes’ quota, World Aquatics shall then invite athletes that have achieved an OCT and inform each NOC accordingly by 3rd July 2024. World Aquatics will make all efforts to give each NOC a 24-48 hour window in which to notify each NOC that one of its athletes is under consideration to be invited, and an online tracking tool will be used on the World Aquatics website showing the athletes qualified in each event. World Aquatics will also seek confirmation from NOCs concerning the participation of athletes with OQTs.
NOCs will then have to confirm if they wish to use these invitation places, as detailed in paragraph G. Qualification Timeline
REALLOCATION OF UNUSED QUOTA PLACES
If an allocated team relay quota place is not confirmed by the NOC by the confirmation of quota place deadline or is declined by the NOC, the quota place will be reallocated to the next eligible team with the fastest time achieved in the combine rankings of the preliminary heats and finals of the World Aquatics Championships 2022 in Fukuoka (JPN) and the World Aquatics Championships 2024 Doha (QAT).
If an individual quota place is declined by an NOC, the quota place will be reallocated to the next highest ranked athlete in the relevant event in the World Aquatics World Rankings for Paris 2024 as of 23rd June 2024.
QUALIFICATION TIMELINE
| Date | Milestone |
| 15th January 2024 | List of final qualification events to be established, published and updated on www.worldaquatics.com |
|
1st March 2023 – 23rd June 2024 |
Period to achieve qualification time standards for individual events |
| 14th – 30th July 2023 | World Aquatics Championships 2022, Fukuoka (JPN) |
| 2nd – 18th February 2024 | World Aquatics Championships 2024, Doha (QAT) |
| 3rd June 2024 | World Aquatics to inform NOCs of qualified relay teams |
| 7th June 2024 | NOCs to confirm the participation of their relay teams to World Aquatics |
| 14th June 2024 | World Aquatics to reallocate unused relay teams’ quotas |
| 23rd June 2024 |
End of period to achieve qualification time standards for individual events |
| 24th June 2024 | NOCs to confirm Relay-Only Athletes to World Aquatics |
| 24th June 2024 | Deadline for NOCs to submit to World Aquatics their application for Universality Places |
| 3rd July 2024 | World Aquatics to inform NOCs of OQT athletes and OCT athlete invitations |
| 3rd July 2024 | World Aquatics to confirm the allocation of Universality Places to NOCs |
| 4th July 2024 | NOCs to confirm use of OQT athletes and OCT athlete invitations to World Aquatics |
| 4th July 2024 | NOCs to confirm the acceptance of Universality Places |
| 5th July 2024 | World Aquatics to reallocate unused OCT athletes’ invitations |
| By 5th July 2021 | World Aquatics to reallocate all unused quota places |
| 5th July 2021 | World Aquatics to inform Paris 2024 Sports Entries Department of all allocated quota places |
| 8th July 2024 | Paris 2024 Sport Entries deadline |
|
26th July – 11th August 2024 |
Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Swimming - 27th July – 4th August 2024) |
QUALIFICATION TIME STANDARDS
The following table outlines the Qualification Time Standards (OQT) * for the Olympic Games Paris 2024:
| Event | Men | Women | ||
| OQT - 2 entries | OCT - 1 entry | OQT - 2 entries | OCT - 1 entry | |
| 50m Freestyle |
21.96 |
22.07 |
24.70 |
24.82 |
| 100m Freestyle |
48.34 |
48.58 |
53.61 |
53.88 |
| 200m Freestyle |
1:46.26 |
01:46.79 |
1:57.26 |
01:57.85 |
| 400m Freestyle |
3:46.78 |
03:47.91 |
4:07.90 |
04:09.14 |
| 800m Freestyle |
7:51.65 |
07:54.01 |
8:26.71 |
08:29.24 |
| 1500m Freestyle |
15:00.99 |
15:05.49 |
16:09.09 |
16:13.94 |
| 100m Backstroke |
53.74 |
54.01 |
59.99 |
01:00.29 |
| 200m Backstroke |
1:57.50 |
01:58.09 |
2:10.39 |
02:11.04 |
| 100m Breaststroke |
59.49 |
59.79 |
1:06.79 |
01:07.12 |
| 200m Breaststroke |
2:09.68 |
02:10.33 |
2:23.91 |
02:24.63 |
| 100m Butterfly |
51.67 |
51.93 |
57.92 |
58.21 |
| 200m Butterfly |
1:55.78 |
01:56.36 |
2:08.43 |
02:09.07 |
| 200m Individual Medley |
1:57.94 |
01:58.53 |
2:11.47 |
02:12.13 |
| 400m Individual Medley |
4:12.50 |
04:13.76 |
4:38.53 |
04:39.92 |
*Explanation :
- OQTs correspond to the time achieved by the 14TH Place in the respective preliminary heats of the event in Tokyo 2020.
- All OCTs were derived by adding 0.5% to the OQT time standard.
The qualification system (English Version) can be downloaded in the link below and it is also available on Olympics.com.
Note: In case of missing information, Olympics.com is the only source of truth as the document available on their platform will prevail.