Get ready for a seismic shift in the world of competitive swimming! USA Swimming is shaking things up with a bold new Pro Swim Series format for 2026, and it’s all about prepping athletes for Olympic glory in Los Angeles 2028. But here’s where it gets controversial: the changes aren’t just about adding more races—they’re about fundamentally altering how swimmers compete, train, and win. Let’s dive in.
USA Swimming has unveiled a revamped Pro Swim Series structure set to debut in 2026, designed to better prepare its athletes for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The new format introduces semi-finals in select events, varying by location, while one distance event per meet will follow a prelims/finals format. This marks a significant departure from the previous system, where all events 400 meters and shorter were contested as prelims/finals, and longer distance events (800/1500 meters) were timed finals. And this is the part most people miss: these changes mean each meet will now span four full days of racing, adding an extra session to the previous three-day format, which included a timed final evening session on Day 1.
Each stop on the series will also feature a unique event order, keeping swimmers on their toes. Greg Meehan, Managing Director of the National Team, explains, “In preparation for LA28, it’s become clear we need to create more long-course racing opportunities for our National Team. This new format is a crucial step, especially in 2026, when we won’t have a traditional nine-day meet to cap the long-course season.” But is this enough to ensure Olympic success? That’s a debate for the comments.
Here’s the breakdown of the changes, meet by meet:
Pro Swim Series Austin (January 14–17)
- Women’s 800 freestyle: Prelims/Final
- 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, and 200 IM: Prelims/Semifinals/Final
- Prize money doubled to $3,000 for winners of all 50s, the 200 IM, and the women’s 800 freestyle
Pro Swim Series Westmont (March 4–7)
- Men’s 800 freestyle: Prelims/Final
- All 100-meter events: Prelims/Semifinals/Final
- Prize money doubled to $3,000 for winners of the 100s and men’s 800 freestyle
Pro Swim Series Sacramento (May 20–23)
- Women’s 1500 freestyle: Prelims/Final
- 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 freestyle: Prelims/Semifinals/Final
- Prize money doubled to $3,000 for winners of these events and the women’s 1500 freestyle
Pro Swim Series Indianapolis (June 17–20)
- Men’s 1500 freestyle: Prelims/Final
- Prize money doubled to $3,000 for winners of the 400 IM, 400 freestyle, and men’s 1500 freestyle
These changes aren’t just about logistics—they’re part of USA Swimming’s broader strategy to enhance performance development ahead of the next Olympic cycle. By mimicking the physical and mental demands of championship racing, the series aims to serve as a critical stepping stone for National Team and National Junior Team athletes. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Are these changes enough to keep up with global competition, or is USA Swimming playing catch-up?
Looking ahead, the 2026 schedule is packed. After four Pro Swim Series stops, USA Swimming will host the National Championships in Irvine from July 28 to August 1, followed by the Pan Pacific Championships in the same city from August 12–15. The U.S. team for the 2026 Pan Pacs was selected based on 2025 championship results, but will this new format produce the next generation of Olympic medalists? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Are these changes a game-changer for U.S. swimming, or is there more work to be done? Let us know in the comments below!
