USA Olympic Swimming Trials to be Split into Two Waves For Better Social Distancing

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The 2021 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials are going to look a bit different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

USA Swimming is set to announce the meet will split into two events, splitting up the qualifiers into two tiers to keep less people at the venue at once because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal first reported and USA Swimming confirmed.

USA Swimming, in partnership with the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the Omaha Sports Commission, announced a revised plan and schedule.

The meet will be split into two “Waves” with Wave I from June 4-7 and Wave II from June 13-20, the same original dates of the meet, instead of having 1,700 swimmers in one place. Wave I will take place during the originally planned test event, the meet that is used to get the host’s feet wet in terms of hosting a swim meet.

Wave II will be the sole qualifier for the Olympic Team with time standards for that meet effective January 28 and will close off qualifying May 30. According to USA Swimming, athletes that have already achieved the Wave II time standards will not need to re-qualify between now and May 30. USA Swimming will adjust the Wave II standard to meet the current 41st seeded time.

As of January 20, 2021, 1305 athletes have qualified for US Olympic Swimming Trials. Here is a reminder of the time standards for the meet.

Both meets will still occur at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.

“We figured this was the best option, and that it still allowed all athletes to have a crack at the Olympic Trials, which for many athletes is the pinnacle of their careers,” USA Swimming CEO Mike Unger said.

“Our number one priority was to find a way to host Trials in the safest possible environment while also giving the athletes the best opportunity to succeed. While selecting the Olympic Team for Tokyo is a critical goal for the Trials, it is important to note that the experience gained at Trials by some of the lower seeded athletes has historically provided a great experience for future Olympic Trials (and Games), which fueled our desire to host two events.”

There is still no word on how many fans will be able to attend the US Olympic Swimming Trials, as the CHI Health Center seats up to 17,000 people.

The Olympic Games are still scheduled for July 23, 2021 with swimming set to begin in 179 days.

Wave II Time Standards:

Event	Men	Women
50 Free	22.71	25.65
100 Free	49.74	55.56
200 Free	1:49.65	2:00.24
400 Free	3:54.21	4:13.28
800 Free	8:08.95	8:44.01
1500 Free	15:35.69	16:44.60
100 Back	55.51	1:01.49
200 Back	2:00.81	2:12.94
100 Breast	1:01.97	1:09.55
200 Breast	2:15.28	2:30.49
100 Fly	53.37	59.59
200 Fly	1:59.63	2:12.56
200 IM	2:03.02	2:15.26
400 IM	4:23.24	4:47.72

Wave I Time Standards:

Event	Men (2016 cut)	Women (2016 cut)
50 Free	23.19 (23.29)	25.99 (26.19)
100 Free	50.49 (50.69)	56.29 (56.49)
200 Free	1:50.79 (1:51.89)	2:01.69 (2:02.39)
400 Free	3:57.29 (3:58.69)	4:16.89 (4:17.99)
800 Free	8:12.99 (N/A)	8:48.09 (8:49.99)
1500 Free	15:44.89 (15:49.99)	16:49.19 (N/A)
100 Back	56.59 (57.19)	1:02.69 (1:03.39)
200 Back	2:02.99 (2:03.79)	2:14.69 (2:16.59)
100 Breast	1:03.29 (1:03.69)	1:10.99 (1:11.49)
200 Breast	2:17.89 (2:18.39)	2:33.29 (2:34.99)
100 Fly	54.19 (54.79)	1:00.69 (1:01.19)
200 Fly	2:01.19 (2:01.99)	2:14.59 (2:14.99)
200 IM	2:04.09 (2:05.09)	2:17.39 (2:18.69)
400 IM	4:25.99 (4:27.49)	4:51.79 (4:54.99)

Wave I Event Schedule:

June 4:
- 100 freestyle
- 100 backstroke
- 200 butterfly
- 800 freestyle
June 5:
- 200 freestyle
- 100 breaststroke
- 400 IM
June 6:
- 400 freestyle
- 100 butterfly
- 200 backstroke
June 7:
- 200 IM
- 50 freestyle
- 200 breaststroke
- 1500 freestyle

Wave II Event Schedule

June 13
- Men’s 400 IM
- Women’s 100 Fly Semis
- Men’s 400 Free
- Women’s 400 IM
- Men’s 100 Breast Semis
June 14
- Women’s 100 Fly
- Men’s 200 Free Semis
- Women’s 100 Breast Semis
- Men’s 100 Breast
- Women’s 400 Free
- Men’s 100 Back Semis
- Women’s 100 Back Semis
June 15
- Women’s 200 Free Semis
- Men’s 200 Free
- Women’s 100 Back
- Men’s 100 Back
- Women’s 100 Breast
- Men’s 200 Fly Semis
- Women’s 200 IM Semis
June 16
- Men’s 100 Free Semis
- Women’s 200 Free
- Men’s 200 Fly
- Women’s 200 Fly
- Men’s 200 Breast Semis
- Women’s 200 IM
- Women’s 1500 Free
June 17
- Men’s 800 Free
- Men’s 200 Breast
- Women’s 100 Free Semis
- Men’s 200 Back Semis
- Women’s 200 Fly
- Men’s 100 Free
- Women’s 200 Breast Semis
- Men’s 200 IM Semis
June 18
- Women’s 200 Breast
- Men’s 200 Back
- Women’s 200 Back Semis
- Men’s 200 IM
- Women’s 100 Free
- Men’s 100 Fly Semis
June 19
- Men’s 100 Fly
- Women’s 200 Back
- Women’s 800 Free
- Men’s 50 Free Semis
- Women’s 50 Free Semis
June 20
- Men’s 50 Free
- Women’s 50 Free
- Men’s 1500 Free