With the World Aquatics Masters Championships now underway in the Qatari capital, here is a guide to the championships including competition details, the disciplines, and where to access all the results of Doha 2024.
About the championships
The World Aquatics Masters Championships are the largest aquatic championships dedicated to masters-level athletes. Masters athletes are those aged 25 & over or 30 & over in water polo. The Championships include five of the six disciplines contested at the World Aquatics Championships (there is no high diving competition at the masters championships). The Championships run over ten days across the same venues used for the World Aquatics Championships – Doha 2024.
World Masters history
The first formal masters competitions were held throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, USA, Japan, Germany and Italy. The masters program officially became part of World Aquatics (then FINA) in 1984 under the presidency of Robert Helmick and in 1985 the first Masters Commission was formed. The first edition of the World Masters Championships was held in 1986 in Tokyo, Japan.
Since 2015 the World Aquatics Masters Championships are held immediately after the World Aquatics Championships in the same host city and have drawn large numbers of participants including over 9,000 at Fukuoka last summer. World Aquatics remains the only International Federation to recognise world records in masters events (swimming only).
Swimming at Doha 2024
The swimming competition at the World Aquatics Masters Championships is open to athletes aged 25 years or older (as of the 31st December 2024). Age-groups are in bands of five years starting at 25-29 years, up to the highest required age band. Relays are based on the total combined age of team members.
The swimming program follows the full individual event card of the World Aquatics Championships except the 1500m Freestyle in both genders. All six relays are 4 x 50m, with a female medley and freestyle relay, male medley and freestyle relay, and mixed medley and freestyle relay. Swimmers can enter a maximum of five individual events. Qualifying times apply and they should be obtained during a sanctioned meet within two years of the Championships. The Doha 2024 qualifying times can be viewed here.
The swimming program at the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 runs from Monday 26th February to Sunday 3rd March. Results are available on the dedicated swimming results page.
Open Water Swimming at Doha 2024
The open water swimming competition at the World Aquatics Masters Championships is open to athletes aged 25 years or older (as of the 31st December 2024). Age-groups are in bands of five years starting at 25-29 years, up to the highest required age band.
The open water swimming program consists of a Men’s 3km and Women’s 3km event. Entry is restricted to those who are familiar with the requirements needed to participate in an open water swimming event and that can cover a 3km distance within 90 minutes.
The open water swimming program at the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 runs from Friday 23rd February to Saturday 24th February. Results are available on the dedicated open water swimming results page.
Diving at Doha 2024
The diving competition at the World Aquatics Masters Championships is open to athletes aged 25 years or older (as of the 31st December 2024). Age-groups are in bands of five years starting at 25-29 years, up to the highest required age band. For synchronised diving the age groups are based on a combination of the diver’s ages and are 50-99 and over 100.
The diving program consists of Men’s & Women’s 1m Springboard, 3m Springboard and Platform events. Synchronised diving events are run as Men’s, Women’s and Mixed for both the 3m Springboard and Platform.
The diving program at the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 runs from Friday 23rd February to Tuesday 27th February. Results are available on the dedicated diving results page.
Water Polo at Doha 2024
The water polo competition at the World Aquatics Masters Championships is open to athletes aged 30 years or older (as of the 31st December 2024). There are both men’s & women’s competitions. Age-groups are in bands of five years starting at 25-29 years, up to the highest required age band. The age of the youngest team member determines the age group of the team. There are no restrictions on the ages of players other than the youngest player on the team.
A team may enter up to 15 players to participate in any game of this tournament (being seven players and up to eight reserves). Women players may be members of a men’s team. A player may not represent more than one team at the World Aquatics Masters Championships. All players must be registered with the same club.
The water polo program at the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 runs from Sunday 25th February to Saturday 2nd March. Results are available on the dedicated water polo results page.
Artistic Swimming at Doha 2024
The artistic swimming competition at the World Aquatics Masters Championships is open to athletes aged 25 years or older (as of the 31st December 2024). Solo event age-groups are 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 & over. Duet event age-groups are 25-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 & over - with the age group determined by the average age of the competitors. Team event age-groups are 25-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65 & over, with the age group determined by the average age of the competitors. Free Combination event age-groups are 25-39, 40-64, and 65 & over, with the age group determined by the average age of the competitors.
All duet, team and free combination competitors must represent the same club. Each club may submit up to a maximum of five routine entries per age group and per event. Each club may enter one free combination in each age group. A competitor may take part in only one Duet, Team and one Free Combination. Each team shall consist of a minimum of four and a maximum of eight members with a half-point penalty deducted from the total team score for each member less than the eight. Free combination shall consist of a minimum of four members and a maximum of ten members. The artistic swimming program consists of Women’s Solo, Men’s Solo, Women’s Duet, Mixed Duet, and Team events.
The artistic swimming program at the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 runs from Sunday 25th February to Friday 1st March. Results are available on the dedicated artistic swimming results page.
World Aquatics Masters Championships – Doha 2024
All information for the World Aquatics Masters Championships - Doha 2024 can be found on the dedicated page on the World Aquatics website. Also available is the schedule, general documents including startlists & rosters, as well asl individual results pages for swimming, open water swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo. Competitors should refer to information supplied by the Sportity app using the code WMADOH24.
World Aquatics Masters Championships – Singapore 2025
Missed your chance to be part of Doha 2024? The next World Aquatics Masters Championships are just around the corner and will be held in conjunction with the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in 2025. Further details and dates will be released by World Aquatics later this year.