The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 will take athletes to three North American cities in October, marking an exciting new chapter for the competition.
Each stop will feature three days of action-packed short-course (25m) racing, bringing additional high-intensity competition to the global swimming calendar.
The three host cities and competition dates are as follows:
- Carmel, Indiana (USA) 10-12 October
- Westmont, Illinois (USA) 17-19 October
- Toronto, Ontario (CAN) 23-25 October
First Stop on the Swimming World Cup 2025 Tour: Carmel, Indiana (USA)
The region has hosted 11 previous World Aquatics events, including the Swimming World Cup 2022 final, the 2019 Champions Series, the 2017 World Junior Swimming Championships, and the 2004 World Swimming Championships (25m) at what was then Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.
For more than 50 years, Carmel has been a hub for swimming excellence, producing world-class athletes through a strong community-driven programme. Three Team USA Olympians from the Paris 2024 Games hail from Carmel: Drew Kibler, and siblings Aaron and Alex Shackell.
Carmel’s first Olympic swimmer, Drew Kibler, made history as the city’s first World Championships medallist and champion. At Paris 2024, he earned Carmel’s first Olympic swimming medal with silver in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
Alex Shackell won gold in the women’s 4x100m medley relay and silver in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, while her brother Aaron was the only U.S. swimmer to reach the final of the men’s 400m freestyle.
“I think it’s amazing,” said Aaron Shackell upon hearing the news of the Swimming World Cup coming to Carmel. “Swimming in Carmel – or Swim City, USA as we like to call it – is an amazing town to swimming. It’s super supportive of the sport. I’m sure there will be lots of fans and no town deserves it more.”
Added Alex Shackell: “It’s so cool to have a World Cup event not just in the U.S., but right here in my hometown of Carmel! I grew up training at Carmel Swim Club, so seeing some of the world’s best swimmers compete in this Carmel High School pool is really exciting. I know the local swimming community will bring tremendous energy, and I can’t wait to see everyone experience what makes this place so special.”
The first leg of the 2025 Swimming World Cup will take place at the Carmel High School Natatorium Complex, featuring a newly built 50m competition pool with high-performance filtration and recessed gutters—one of the fastest pools in the United States. The facility also includes spectator seating, an additional 50m training pool, and a hydrotherapy area.
“Hosting the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup at Carmel High School’s new natatorium is a tremendous opportunity for Hamilton County,” said Hamilton County Sports Authority Director Carl Daniels. “This state-of-the-art facility showcases Carmel’s commitment to excellence in swimming and provides an outstanding venue for international competition. We’re proud to partner with Carmel Swim Club to bring this prestigious event to our community.”
Second Swimming World Cup 2025 Tour Stop: Westmont, Illinois (USA)
Following the first stop of the Swimming World Cup 2025 tour, the series moves westward through the American heartland to Westmont, Illinois. A southwest suburb of Chicago, Westmont has become a key destination for elite swimming competitions, thanks to the recently constructed FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park. The venue boasts a state-of-the-art, nine-lane, 50m Myrtha Pool within a 6,500-square-meter arena, with spectator seating on three sides.
In March, Westmont hosted the TYR Pro Swim Series at the FMC Natatorium, the first major U.S. senior-level meet following the 2024 Olympic Trials. The upcoming Swimming World Cup event will mark Westmont’s debut as a host city for an international aquatic competition.
Westmont joins a region with deep Olympic swimming roots. Chicago native Perry McGillivray won Olympic gold and silver at the 1920 and 1912 Games, respectively, while more recent stars include Olympic champions Matt Grevers and Conor Dwyer.
Olympic and World Champion Kate Douglass expressed her excitement about the Swimming World Cup returning to the United States and Canada in 2025.
“Hearing that World Cup 2025 is in North America and close to home is a no-brainer for me. I immediately knew that I wanted to participate. It was a lot of fun travelling in Asia, but obviously, it was far from home, and travel was difficult, but I had so much fun,” said Douglass, the Swimming World Cup 2024 women’s overall series winner. “I am excited to see how this goes on home soil. I am most looking forward to the US stops because some of my teammates and college swimmers may go. It will be a fun and energetic meet!”
Final Stage of the Swimming World Cup 2025 Tour: Toronto, Canada
The final stop brings the Swimming World Cup back to Toronto, the city that hosted the first-ever World Cup event in 1988. Competition will take place at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, a premier facility with two Olympic-sized, 10-lane pools.
With a legacy of hosting major international events—including the 2005 and 2016 World Aquatics Championships in Montreal and Windsor, respectively—Canada has seen an incredible rise in swimming success.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Toronto native Summer McIntosh made history with three gold medals and a silver. She followed this with three golds, a silver, and a relay bronze at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest 2024.
World relay medallist Sophie Angus, who trains out of Ontario’s Swimming Canada High Performance Centre, reacted to her home pool at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre serving as this year’s home for the Swimming World Cup final.
“We are very excited about a World Cup in Toronto this fall. The energy of the crowd, the support of the local swimming community and the pride of representing Canada in front of a home audience all make for an unforgettable experience,” said Angus. “The World Cup tour always brings a special level of excitement, with athletes from around the world pushing each other to be at their absolute best.
“To have that kind of elite competition at our home pool is not just electrifying—it’s a chance to showcase our talent, our passion, and what Canadian swimming is all about.”
Added fellow Canadian Finlay Knox, the reigning World Champion in the Men’s 200m Medley: “To bring an international level competition on Canada’s soil is an awesome opportunity for us Canadians.”
What to Watch For in 2025 | Stellar Fields, World Record Performances and Big-Time Pay Days
More than 750 athletes from over 50 nations will compete for a share of the USD 1.2 million prize pool. The popular World Record bonus of USD 10,000 and the coveted Crown bonuses will again reward standout performances.
Last season, athletes capitalised on this opportunity, breaking eight World Records and claiming 18 crowns, contributing to a total prize pay out of USD 1.46 million.
Two of the biggest winners were Kate Douglass of the USA and Leon Marchand of France – the women’s and men’s overall Swimming World Cup titlists from 2024.
“Competing on the Swimming World Cup tour was the perfect way to close out my 2024 season,” said Marchand, the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Male Athlete of the Year. “Racing across three cities in front of passionate crowds kept the excitement going after the Paris Olympics, and coming out on top in an overall title race made it even more special. The competition level and atmosphere when you’re on the Swimming World Cup tour are incredible!”
UPCX Breakout Male Swimmer of the Year Noe Ponti of Switzerland also capitalised on competing on the 2024 Swimming World Cup tour, using it as a springboard for winning three World titles in the 25m pool later that year in Budapest, Hungary.
“Racing on the Swimming World Cup tour supercharged my 2024 season—it was the best and most rewarding of my career. Competing in three cities over three weeks was both thrilling and intense, preparing me perfectly for the World Swimming Championships (25m), where I experienced breakthrough after breakthrough,” said Ponti. “I’m coming out of this season with even more confidence and can’t wait to carry that momentum forward. See you at this year’s Swimming World Cup!"