Swimming Union of the Americas (UANA) Looking for Larger Cap, Smaller Teams at Pan American Games

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, July 18. IN a report posted from a May meeting of the Swimming Union of the Americas (UANA) Technical Committee, several changes to the Pan American Games qualifying system have been suggested, largely focusing on a larger athlete cap, while creating smaller teams per country. The committee also discussed developing a Junior Pan American Championships.

The past three Pan American Games have required participant cap adjustments as entry numbers exceeded the 256-athlete cap that is currently in place. In 2003, there were 261 swimmers, while 2007 (285) and 2011 (270) also exceeded the cap.

Five alterations have been proposed for the 2015 Pan American Games:
-Increase the cap number to 300 swimmers.
-Decrease maximum team size from 52 to 36 swimmers per nation (18 males, 18 females).
-Once a swimmer qualifies for the Games, they can swim as many events as they would liked.
-A nation can have any number of swimmers in prelims, but only 2 may advance to Semifinals/Finals.
-A meet format of: prelims/semis/finals (200s and under), prelims/finals (400s and relays), and timed finals (800/1500).
-Olympic events only (i.e. no 50s for stroke, men's 800, nor women's 1500)

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