USA Swimming won’t be sending a team to the 2021 World University Games (WUGs) in Chengdu, China, a spokesperson for the organization confirmed to SwimSwam on Thursday.
USA Swimming advised its National Team and National Junior Team athletes on Wednesday that they’ve switched their quad plan and are focusing on sending a team to the 2023 edition of the competition.
The 2021 World University Games, which are taking place in 2022 late due to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games, are scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China from June 26-July 7, 2022.
A representative for the United States International University Sports Federation (USIUSF) told SwimSwam that it would be possible for the US to still send a swim team in spite of USA Swimming opting not to.
The USIUSF rep said that in the past when a national governing body has chosen not to field a team, USISF has selected a highly-ranked university team to go and compete, but that’s generally been for team events such as basketball and baseball.
They said in the case that USA Swimming doesn’t send a team, the US Federation would discuss to determine the best option.
However, USA Swimming has funded the teams it sent to WUGs in the past, so that would be one additional hurdle for the USISF to cross if it opted to send swimmers to the event.
USA Swimming was initially expected to select its team for this year’s WUGs at the 2022 International Team Trials in April, which were primarily geared to be the qualifying meet for the 2022 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
All indications are that the 2022 World Championships have been postponed until 2023, though FINA has yet to officially make an announcement.
USA Swimming said it won’t have any updates on competition opportunities for swimmers in 2022 until FINA confirms its international swimming calendar.
With no Long Course World Championships in 2022, American swimmers would be left without a major competition on the international stage until Short Course Worlds in December.
These college students have lost enough…. in particular the seniors. I do not think that electing not to go is the right decision for the student-athletes.
why?
“The USIUSF rep said that in the past when a national governing body has chosen not to field a team, USISF has selected a highly-ranked university team to go and compete, but that’s generally been for team events such as basketball and baseball.”
It would be a cool team trip for the UVA women and Texas men
Yeah and both teams are largely American, so it could work.
Is this the real AJ Pouch?
Yes?
The Class of 2020 AKA the COVID Class of swimmers have been hosed by USA Swimming. The only thing the 2020 Jr Nat team got was a nice cheap souvenir USA Swim Cap! Now ZERO international meet options! Can we have Team Puerto Rico take over our National and Jr National Team program.
Breaking news, Fina cancels swim for good
Really sucks for these young athletes.
Don’t really see a valid reason for this, it’s not like most NCAA athletes will have any other international meets to qualify for or focus on for this coming summer with Worlds postponed. Majority of college athletes won’t be going to World Cup or Mare Nostrum.
$$ is the only reason I can think of?