Spanish swimming is defining its selection criteria for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

This Tuesday, January 3, 570 days after the start of Paris 2024 Olympic Games (they will start on July 26 of the next year, although swimming will do it a day later), The Royal Spanish Swimming Federation has published its selection criteria for the Olympic event. This includes notable changes on the road to the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

As for that (beyond the changes that need to be made for Tokyo due to the pandemic), The existence of three major selective competitions is repeated, although with major changes. This is because the selection process will start this year because the Fukuoka World Cup 2023 will be very relevant to get the classification, as well Doha World Cup 2024 and a Spanish Open in June 2024. This is also something new, because the traditional selection for the main championships that take place in the spring will be delayed until next year due to the adjustment of the international calendar, with the World Cup in February.

Aspects to consider with a view to qualifying for Paris 2024

-By FINA standards, FINA A minimums are required (QQT-1 entry) to get a direct pass, with a maximum of two swimmers per country and test.
–The minimum FINA B They only allow participation in the test by invitation and with a maximum of one swimmer as long as there are no compatriots with FINA A. However, FINA decides the invitations and they are usually given to countries without any FINA A in any of the tests

Specific standards of Spanish swimming

1. AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

So, swimmers must achieve this FINA A minimum, as usual, to have a classification in their hand. In the case of Spanish swimming, in fact, those FINA A times will be needed to access Paris 2024while a minimum of FINA B is required to access the international championships where the Olympic pass is contested. With this premise of achieving the minimum FINA A, there will be three elite championships, where it is important to consider that there is talk of pre-selection and non-selection in reference to Fukuoka 2023 and Doha 2024:

1. WORLD CUP IN FUKUOKA IN JULY 2023 – Olympic preselection with final + minimum FINA A

Swimmers who reach the final and at the same time obtain a minimum of FINA A in that test will be pre-selected for the Paris Olympic Games. This is because this World Cup looks far ahead of the Games, but they want to reward the world finalists with the minimum.
The
​Fukuoka World Cup access criteria (maximum two per event):
-Selected competitions by priority: 1. Spring Open 2023, 2. Ciutat de Barcelona 2023
-Requested brands:
-Swimmers with a minimum of FINA B for Paris 2024 can access Fukuoka.
-Access of swimmers with minimum FINA A will be considered for the Fukuoka World Cup +0.5%.

2. WORLD CUP IN DOHA IN FEBRUARY 2024 – Olympic preselection with minimum FINA A

Swimmers who have made a minimum of FINA A in their test will be pre-selected for the Paris Olympic Games. That is, with reference to this World Cup, it is not required at the same time to finishas required in the Fukuoka World Cup
The
​Doha World Cup access criteria (located on an atypical date; maximum two per event):
-Selected competitions by priority: 1. Fukuoka World Cup 2023, 2. European sub23 2023 – European and Junior World Cup 2023 – Spanish Summer Open 2023
-Requested brands:
​ -Swimmers with a minimum of FINA B for Paris 2024 (maximum of two per test) will be able to access Doha.
-Access of swimmers with minimum FINA A will be considered for the Doha World Cup +0.5%.

After the Doha World Cup, the first shortlist for Paris 2024 will be issued. The minimums for Fukuoka and Doha have the same amount, so the shortlisted and non-selected are discussed on specific criteria for each championship .

As mentioned above, one of the main points of these criteria is that preselection does not imply selection. That is, from Fukuoka and Doha there will be lists of swimmers who meet the pre-selection criteria (minimum FINA A), but are not directly selected due to the fact that a total of two World Cups can appear with more than two swimmers .with a minimum FINA A in both tests. Therefore, in the case of trials with three or more swimmers with FINA A, not all of them will be able to access Paris.

Considering that performance in Fukuoka and in Doha, RFEN will establish the first list of selected teams after the Qatar World Cup, who will now have a safe place to calmly prepare for the Paris Games. As examples, it may happen that, across Fukuoka and Doha, only two national swimmers have obtained the minimum FINA A in a given test, with the rest of the Spaniards far away, which would speed up direct selection. however, There may also be a test where there are three Spanish swimmers who meet the criteria. The RFEN will then review the specific cases to see if at least one direct spot will be awarded or if the tie is broken, definitely in the last qualifying championship.

3. OPEN DE ESPAÑA IN JUNE 2024 – final competition of the final selection

As another of the main points, the selective national qualifier for Paris 2024 in the year of the Games will take place in June and not in March or April, because the previous World Cup in Fukuoka was in February. This will determine the final choice with two facets:
-The first, to close the final selection in tests where there are more than two minimum FINA A from previous championships.
-The second, to add a minimum FINA A to another test to close the call.

It is after this championship that the RFEN will announce the final list of qualifiers for the Games.

2. AT THE RELAY LEVEL

They can access the Games, for the most part, one relay per country and test. The tests are Men’s and women’s 4×100 freestyle, men’s and women’s 4×200 freestyle, men’s and women’s 4×100 medley and 4×100 mixed medley. Removes ranks and There will be two qualifying competitions, the Fukuoka 2023 and Doha 2024 World Cups.

1. FUKUOKA WORLD CUP IN JULY 2023

1. The best 3 teams in each test will get a pass to Paris 2024
*These World Cup times, even without achieving a direct place here, will count towards the Olympic classification.
The
Relay access criteria to the Fukuoka World Cup:
1. Having a relay in the top 16 of the 2022 world ranking, with at least one relay swimmer with a minimum of FINA A from Fukuoka +0.5% at the individual level
The
​Individual access criteria to swim in the Fukuoka World Cup relay:
1. The 2023 Spring Open will be considered as the main event and the 2023 Ciutat de Barcelona as the secondary event

2. WORLD CUP IN DOHA IN FEBRUARY 2024

1. The 13 teams with the best total times between the Fukuoka World Cup and this Doha World Cup will get a pass to Paris 2024, leaving the three with a direct berth to the previous World Cup
The
Relay access criteria to the Doha World Cup:
1. Having a relay in the top 16 of the 2023 world ranking, with the lowest relay and total equivalent times and having at least one relay member with a minimum of FINA A for Doha 2024 in an individual event
The
Individual access criteria to swim in the Fukuoka World Cup relay:
1. The 2023 Fukuoka World Cup, the 2023 U23 European Championship, the 2023 Junior European Championship, the 2023 Junior World Cup and the 2023 Summer Spanish Open will be considered.

As a final requirement, If it is possible to qualify a relay to participate in Paris 2024, at least two of the swimmers making it up must qualify for an individual event at the Gameseither by classification according to the FINA A minimum route or by receiving the go-ahead to participate in the FINA B minimum.