Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification

For the swimming competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympics, the following qualification systems were in place. Qualification ends on 6 July 2020.

Qualifying standards for pool swimming

A National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter a maximum of 2 qualified athletes in each individual event, only if both athletes have attained the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT). One athlete per event can potentially enter if they meet the Olympic Selection Time (OST) or if the quota of 878 athletes has not been targeted. NOCs may also permit swimmers regardless of time (1 per gender) under a Universality place, as long as they have no swimmers reaching either the standard entry time.^[1]

In the relay events, a maximum of 16 qualifying teams in each relay event must be permitted to accumulate a total of 112 relay teams; each NOC may enter only one team. The first twelve teams in each relay event at the 2019 World Championships will automatically compete for the relay events at the Olympics; while the remaining four per relay event must obtain their fastest entry times based on the FINA World Rankings of 31 May 2020 during the process.^[1]

Following the end of the qualification period, FINA will assess the number of athletes having achieved the OQT, the number of relay-only swimmers, and the number of Universality places, before inviting athletes with OST to fulfill the total quota of 878. Additionally, OST places will be distributed by event according to the position of the FINA World Rankings during the qualifying deadline (6 July 2020).^[1]

The qualifying time standards must be obtained in World Championships, Continental Championships, Continental Qualification Events, National Championships and Trials, or International Competitions approved by FINA in the period between 1 March 2019 to 29 June 2020.^[1]

The initial FINA qualifying standards, which must still be ratified, are as follows:^[2]^[1]

Men's events			Women's events
Event	OQT	OST	Event	OQT	OST
50 m freestyle	22.01	22.67	50 m freestyle	24.77	25.51
100 m freestyle	48.57	50.03	100 m freestyle	54.38	56.01
200 m freestyle	1:47.02	1:50.23	200 m freestyle	1:57.28	2:00.80
400 m freestyle	3:46.78	3:53.58	400 m freestyle	4:07.90	4:15.34
800 m freestyle	7:54.31	8:08.54	800 m freestyle	8:33.36	8:48.76
1500 m freestyle	15:00.99	15:28.02	1500 m freestyle	16:32.04	17:01.80
100 m backstroke	53.85	55.47	100 m backstroke	1:00.25	1:02.06
200 m backstroke	1:57.50	2:01.03	200 m backstroke	2:10.39	2:14.30
100 m breaststroke	59.93	1:01.73	100 m breaststroke	1:07.07	1:09.08
200 m breaststroke	2:10.35	2:14.26	200 m breaststroke	2:25.52	2:29.89
100 m butterfly	51.96	53.52	100 m butterfly	57.92	59.66
200 m butterfly	1:56.48	1:59.97	200 m butterfly	2:08.43	2:12.28
200 m individual medley	1:59.67	2:03.26	200 m individual medley	2:12.56	2:16.54
400 m individual medley	4:15.84	4:21.46	400 m individual medley	4:38.53	4:46.89

Individual events

Those who have achieved the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) or the Olympic Selection Time (OST), or have been guaranteed a Universality place are listed below for each of the following individual events:

Men's individual events

Men's 50 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 22.01	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 22.67	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 100 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 48.57	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 50.03	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 200 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:47.02	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 1:50.23	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 400 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 3:46.78	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 3:53.58	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 800 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 7:54.31	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 8:08.54	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 1500 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 15:00.99	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 15:28.02	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 100 m backstroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 53.85	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 55.47	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 200 m backstroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:57.50	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:01.03	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 100 m breaststroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 59.93	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 1:01.73	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 200 m breaststroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 2:10.35	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:14.26	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 100 m butterfly

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 51.96	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 53.52	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 200 m butterfly

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:56.48	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 1:59.97	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 200 m individual medley

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:59.67	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:03.26	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Men's 400 m individual medley

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 4:15.84	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 4:21.46	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's individual events

Women's 50 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 24.77	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 25.51	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 100 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 54.38	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 56.01	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 200 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:57.28	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:00.80	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 400 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 4:07.90	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 4:15.34	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 800 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 8:33.36	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 8:48.76	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 1500 m freestyle

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 16:32.04	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 17:01.80	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 100 m backstroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:00.25	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 1:02.06	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 200 m backstroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 2:10.39	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:14.30	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 100 m breaststroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 1:07.07	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 1:09.08	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 200 m breaststroke

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 2:25.52	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:29.89	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 100 m butterfly

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 57.92	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 59.66	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 200 m butterfly

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 2:08.43	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:12.28	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 200 m individual medley

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 2:12.56	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 2:16.54	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Women's 400 m individual medley

Qualification standard	No. of athletes	NOC	Qualified swimmers
Olympic Qualifying Time – 4:38.53	1–2
Olympic Selection Time – 4:46.89	1
Universality Places	1
Total

Relay events

Men's 4×100 m freestyle relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Men's 4×200 m freestyle relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Men's 4×100 m medley relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Women's 4×100 m freestyle relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Women's 4×200 m freestyle relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Women's 4×100 m medley relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Mixed 4×100 m medley relay

Qualification event	No. of teams	Qualified teams
2019 World Championships	12
Best times of non-qualifiers	4
Total	16

Qualifying standards for open water events

Timeline

Event	Date	Venue
2019 World Aquatics Championships	12–28 July 2019	Gwangju
2020 FINA Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier
Re-allocation of unused quota		–

Men's 10 km marathon

Qualification event	No. of athletes	Qualified athletes
2019 World Championships	10
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (overall)	9
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Africa)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Americas)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Asia)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Europe)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Oceania)	1
Host country	1	TBD (JPN)
Total	25

Women's 10 km marathon

Qualification event	No. of athletes	Qualified athletes
2019 World Championships	10
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (overall)	9
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Africa)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Americas)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Asia)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Europe)	1
2020 Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier (Oceania)	1
Host country	1	TBD (JPN)
Total	25

References

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Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Qualification
Freestyle
50 m	men		women
100 m	men		women
200 m	men		women
400 m	men		women
800 m	men		women
1500 m	men		women
Backstroke
100 m	men		women
200 m	men		women
Breaststroke
100 m	men		women
200 m	men		women
Butterfly
100 m	men		women
200 m	men		women
Individual medley
200 m	men		women
400 m	men		women
Freestyle relay
4×100 m	men		women
4×200 m	men		women
Medley relay
4×100 m	men	mixed	women
Marathon
10 km	men		women
v t e