LEN, the governing body for aquatic sports in Europe, says that 412 athletes from 36 nations have already submitted entries to the inaugural LEN U23 Swimming Championships.
While LEN declined to respond to a request for the full entry list (either of athletes or nations) so far, and have only announced the USA among its allowed one-per-continent entries from outside of Europe, the outcome is a positive one for the first edition of this event.
There are 52 LEN member federations, and this means that at least 31 of them (60%) have entered teams so far.
LEN says they’re expecting more than 500 athletes to participate when the dust settles.
The meet will take place in Dublin from August 11-13, 2023.
A total of €5,000 ($5,454) in prize money will be awarded with half going to the top male performance and half going to the top female performances of the meet by the World Aquatics points system. The event will include the full World Championship schedule for individual events, two relays (the mixed 400 free and mixed 400 medley), and a special 50 free ‘skins’ event where the field will be whittled after each round until a head-to-head finish is all that remains.
Over only three days does seem a bit too compact if people are travelling from overseas. I really do like the idea though.
Why do swimming organisers behave this way? They can’t just release the entrants they have to delay and delay until the last minute so no one can talk about it
Can we have a whip round to fund some of the flights home? 5k in total prize money?!!
Honestly any prize money for an age group meet is an improvement. This isn’t like a World Cup where a lot of the athletes are paying their own way.
I’d disagree with you on the “age group meet”. I’m sure there will be many genuine age groupers there but u23 is closer to an open meet.
Hypothetical question, How many competitive swimmers swim past 23 if they are not super elite? (And the super elite is obviously not the intended athlete here.)
Seems like they needed to have a bare minimum prize money for some reason.
If it was on Swim Ireland to come up with the prize money then I totally understand. But it is under LEN’s flag so I’d thought a little more financial incentive would only be fair / smart.
What’s your definition of super elite?
For example, do you consider Hali Flickinger super elite?
Of course! She’s an Olympic medalist!
Fair question tbh. I would say anyone who is going to go a senior international competition, I.e. World’s or Olympics, and being capable of getting out of the heats.
But I think you understood my point.
Super athlete meaning Olympic gold medalist or a world record holder
Stupendous