{"id":622993,"date":"2025-09-24T05:07:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T12:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=622993"},"modified":"2025-09-24T05:17:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T12:17:32","slug":"new-awards-for-age-group-swimmers-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/new-awards-for-age-group-swimmers-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"New Awards for Age Group Swimmers Coming in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Awards for Age Group Swimmers Coming in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every sport has its marquee night.<\/p>\n

For USA Swimming<\/a>, t<\/a>hat spotlight has long belonged to this weekend\u2019s Golden Goggles<\/strong>, where Olympians and National Team stars are celebrated.<\/p>\n

What about the next generation building the sport from the bottom up?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where the ORCAs come in.<\/p>\n

This April 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida, ISCA will host the inaugural ORCAs Awards, the first national celebration designed specifically for age group swimming. Think of it as the sport\u2019s version of the ESPYs, but focused on age group athletes and everyday heroes who make swimming thrive in local pools and clubs across the country.<\/p>\n

A Founder’s Vision<\/h3>\n

\"\"The ORCAs were spearheaded by Doug Fonder<\/strong>, who saw a gap in how the sport celebrates itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ORCAs are about celebrating the heart of swimming,\u201d said Fonder. \u201cGolden Goggles will always honor our Olympians<\/a>. The ORCAs give grassroots swimmers, coaches, and families their own moment. These are the kids who could one day be wearing the Team USA cap in Melbourne in 2032.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Than an Awards Night<\/h3>\n

This won\u2019t just be a banquet with trophies. The ORCAs are planned as a full weekend experience:<\/p>\n