January 1, 2025 - August 31, 2025

• The top 28 athletes of each gender will receive Direct Athlete Support based on the following rankings:
  • Athletes who are named to the 2024-2025 National Team and are ranked number 1 in an Individual Olympic Event(s) will receive Direct Athlete Support. Athletes who are named to the 2024-2025 National Team and are ranked number 2, 3, or 4 in the 100- and 200-meter Freestyle will receive Direct Athlete Support.
• If all athletes listed above have qualified for funding and less than 28 athletes per gender meet the above requirements, athletes who are on the 2024-2025 National Team will be ranked based on their fastest Percentage of “A” Standard in an Individual Olympic Event, from January 1, 2024 through August 31, 2024. USA Swimming will use the World Aquatics “A” Time Standard for the 2024 Olympic Games.
• Percentage of “A” Standard means the difference between a swimmer’s fastest time in an Individual Olympic Event and the “A” Standard for that Event. The resulting time difference will be converted to a percentage to demonstrate how much faster or slower the swimmer’s fastest time in an Individual Olympic Event is compared to the “A” Time Standard in that same event. This percentage will be calculated by subtracting the swimmer’s fastest time in an event from the “A” Standard in that same event, then dividing the difference by the “A” Time Standard in that event. Calculations will be carried to the one-thousandth of a percent (i.e., x.xxx%).
  • For example, if the “A” Time Standard in the 100-meter Freestyle is 1 minute, and Swimmer #1’s fastest time in the 100-meter Freestyle is :54 seconds, then Swimmer #1 has swum 6 seconds faster than the “A” Standard in the 100-meter Freestyle. Using the formula described above (60 seconds minus 54 seconds, divided by 60 seconds) Swimmer #1’s Percentage of “A” Standard would be 10%..
  • If the “A” Time Standard in the 200-meter Freestyle is 2 minutes, and Swimmer #2’s fastest time in the 200-meter Freestyle is 1:54, then Swimmer #2 has swum 6 seconds faster than the “A” Time Standard in the 200-meter Freestyle. Using the formula described above (120 seconds minus 114 seconds, divided by 120 seconds) that swimmer’s Percentage of “A” Standard would be 5%.
  • Swimmer #1’s Percentage of “A” Standard (10%) would be considered higher than Swimmer #2’s Percentage of “A” Standard (5%).
  • If a swimmer’s fastest time in an event is slower than the “A” Time Standard for that same event, their percentages will be negative. Using the same example above, if Swimmer #1’s fastest time in the 100-meter Freestyle is 1:06, their Percentage of “A” standard would be -10% (60 seconds minus 66 seconds equals negative 6 seconds negative 6 seconds divided by 60 seconds equals -10%). If Swimmer #2’s fastest time in the 200-meter Freestyle is 2:06, their Percentage of “A” Standard would be -5% (120 seconds minus 126 seconds equals negative 6 seconds; negative 6 seconds divided by 120 seconds equals -5%). In this case, Swimmer #2’s Percentage of “A” Standard (-5%) is faster than Swimmer #1's Percentage of “A” Standard (-10%).
• This process will continue until 28 men and 28 women have qualified for Direct Athlete Support.
  • If there is a tie for the 28th position, all athletes involved in the tie will receive support.
• Athletes who have exhausted or relinquished their NCAA eligibility will be offered the opportunity to sign the Athlete Partnership Agreement.

June 1, 2025-August 31, 2025

• Members of the 2025 World Championships Team who are not already receiving funding based on the above will receive $1,500 of funding.
• The USA Swimming Athlete Partnership Agreement (APA) will not be offered to the 2025 World Championship Team Members.

September 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Revised and as approved by the USOPC as of May 29, 2025

• The top 28 30 athletes of each gender will receive Direct Athlete Support based on the following rankings:
  • Athletes who are named to the 2025-2026 National Team and are ranked number 1 in their respective Individual Olympic Event(s) will receive Direct Athlete Support. Athletes who are named to the 2025-2026 National Team and are ranked number 2, 3, or 4 in the 100- and 200-meter Freestyle will receive Direct Athlete Support.
• If all athletes listed above have qualified for funding and less than 28 30 athletes per gender meet the above requirements, athletes who are on the 2025-2026 National Team will be ranked based on their fastest Percentage of “A” Standard in an Individual Olympic Event, from January 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025. USA Swimming will use the World Aquatics “A” Time Standard for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
• Percentage of “A” Standard means the difference between a swimmer’s fastest time in an Individual Event and the “A” Standard for that Event. The resulting time difference will be converted to a percentage to demonstrate how much faster or slower the swimmer’s fastest time in an Individual Event is compared to the “A” Time Standard in that same event. This percentage will be calculated by subtracting the swimmer’s fastest time in an event from the “A” Standard in that same event, then dividing the difference by the “A” Time Standard in that event. Calculations will be carried to the one-thousandth of a percent (i.e., x.xxx%).
  • For example, if the “A” Time Standard in the 100-meter Freestyle is 1 minute, and Swimmer #1’s fastest time in the 100-meter Freestyle is :54 seconds, then Swimmer #1 has swum 6 seconds faster than the “A” Standard in the 100-meter Freestyle. Using the formula described above (60 seconds minus 54 seconds, divided by 60 seconds) Swimmer #1’s Percentage of “A” Standard would be 10%..
  • If the “A” Time Standard in the 200-meter Freestyle is 2 minutes, and Swimmer #2’s fastest time in the 200-meter Freestyle is 1:54, then Swimmer #2 has swum 6 seconds faster than the “A” Time Standard in the 200-meter Freestyle. Using the formula described above (120 seconds minus 114 seconds, divided by 120 seconds) that swimmer’s Percentage of “A” Standard would be 5%.
  • Swimmer #1’s Percentage of “A” Standard (10%) would be considered higher than Swimmer #2’s Percentage of “A” Standard (5%).
  • If a swimmer’s fastest time in an event is slower than the “A” Time Standard for that same event, their percentages will be negative. Using the same example above, if Swimmer #1’s fastest time in the 100-meter Freestyle is 1:06, their Percentage of “A” standard would be -10% (60 seconds minus 66 seconds equals negative 6 seconds negative 6 seconds divided by 60 seconds equals -10%). If Swimmer #2’s fastest time in the 200-meter Freestyle is 2:06, their Percentage of “A” Standard would be -5% (120 seconds minus 126 seconds equals negative 6 seconds; negative 6 seconds divided by 120 seconds equals -5%). In this case, Swimmer #2’s Percentage of “A” Standard (-5%) is faster than Swimmer #1's Percentage of “A” Standard (- 10%).
• This process will continue until 28 30 men and 28 30 women have qualified for Direct Athlete Support.
  • If there is a tie for the 28th 30th position, all athletes involved in the tie will receive support.
• Athletes who have exhausted or relinquished their NCAA eligibility will be offered the opportunity to sign the Athlete Partnership Agreement.

January 1, 2025 – April 30, 2025

• Up to 3 men and 3 women
• Athletes who qualify for, are selected to compete, and do compete in the 10K event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
• Remaining funding positions will be filled by athletes who finish in the top 16 at the 2024 World Aquatics 10K World Cup– Hong Kong, China,) until a maximum of 3 athletes per gender qualify for funding.
• If there is a tie for the last position on the team in either gender, all athletes involved in the tie will receive support.
• Athletes who have exhausted or relinquished their NCAA eligibility will be offered the opportunity to sign the Athlete Partnership Agreement.

May 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025

• Up to 4 men and 4 women
• Criteria to be determined and updated based on the World Aquatics international calendar.
• Athletes who qualify for, and compete in, the 2025 Open Water World Championships will receive funding.
• Athletes who have exhausted or relinquished their NCAA eligibility will be offered the opportunity to sign the Athlete Partnership Agreement.