LA28 and World Aquatics have unveiled the official qualification framework for swimming at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, including the exact time standards athletes must meet to compete. The full qualification document is available here: https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SWM-LA28-Qualification-System.pdf.
Earlier this year, World Aquatics announced changes to the Olympic selection process, introducing adjustments to how standard times are set and establishing new rules for the stroke 50 events—events that will make their Olympic debut in LA. Previously, the commonly used A-cut times were tied to the 14th or 16th fastest time from the prior Games. For LA, World Aquatics and SwimSwam indicated that the A-cut would be near the Paris 2024 14th-ranked entry time. This approach helped manage a reduced Olympic quota, with the field shrinking from 852 to 830 athletes and a goal of fewer automatic qualifiers.
The newly released standards show that the A-cuts are not exactly the Paris 14th seed but are very close in practice. The B-cuts are defined as exactly 1% slower than their corresponding A-cuts.
Women’s 2028 Olympic Qualifying Times
Event – A Standard; B Standard (A + 1%)
- 50m Free: 24.56; 24.81
- 100m Free: 53.60; 54.14
- 200m Free: 1:56.43; 1:57.59
- 400m Free: 4:06.27; 4:08.73
- 800m Free: 8:26.71; 8:31.78
- 1500m Free: 16:08.65; 16:18.34
- 100m Back: 59.49; 1:00.08
- 200m Back: 2:08.95; 2:10.24
- 100m Breast: 1:06.10; 1:06.76
- 200m Breast: 2:23.49; 2:24.92
- 100m Fly: 57.38; 57.95
- 200m Fly: 2:08.15; 2:09.43
- 200m IM: 2:09.90; 2:11.20
- 400m IM: 4:37.33; 4:40.10
Comparison: 2024 vs. 2028 Qualifying and the Paris 14th Seed (Women)
- 50 Free: 2024 A time 24.70 → 2028 A time 24.56 (Paris’ 14th seed was 24.56)
- 100 Free: 53.61 → 53.60
- 200 Free: 1:57.26 → 1:56.43
- 400 Free: 4:07.90 → 4:06.27
- 800 Free: 8:26.71 → 8:26.71 (unchanged)
- 1500 Free: 16:09.09 → 16:08.65
- 100 Back: 59.99 → 59.49
- 200 Back: 2:10.39 → 2:08.95
- 100 Breast: 1:06.79 → 1:06.10
- 200 Breast: 2:23.91 → 2:23.49
- 100 Fly: 57.92 → 57.38
- 200 Fly: 2:08.43 → 2:08.15
- 200 IM: 2:11.47 → 2:09.90
- 400 IM: 4:38.53 → 4:37.33
Men’s 2028 Olympic Qualifying Times
Event – A Standard; B Standard (A + 1%)
- 50m Free: 21.69; 21.91
- 100m Free: 47.86; 48.34
- 200m Free: 1:45.83; 1:46.89
- 400m Free: 3:45.46; 3:47.71
- 800m Free: 7:47.04; 7:51.71
- 1500m Free: 14:51.62; 15:00.54
- 100m Back: 53.00; 53.53
- 200m Back: 1:56.05; 1:57.21
- 100m Breast: 59.27; 59.86
- 200m Breast: 2:09.35; 2:10.64
- 100m Fly: 51.06; 51.57
- 200m Fly: 1:54.69; 1:55.84
- 200m IM: 1:57.54; 1:58.72
- 400m IM: 4:11.52; 4:14.04
Paris 2024 vs. Paris 2028 Qualifying & A Time (Men)
- 50 Free: 2024 A 21.96; 14th seed 21.72; 2028 A 21.69
- 100 Free: 2024 A 48.34; 14th seed 47.86; 2028 A 47.86
- 200 Free: 2024 A 1:46.26; 14th seed 1:45.83; 2028 A 1:45.83
- 400 Free: 2024 A 3:46.78; 14th seed 3:45.46; 2028 A 3:45.46
- 800 Free: 2024 A 7:51.65; 14th seed 7:46.55; 2028 A 7:47.04
- 1500 Free: 2024 A 15:00.99; 14th seed 14:51.62; 2028 A 14:51.62
- 100 Back: 2024 A 53.74; 14th seed 53.08; 2028 A 53.00
- 200 Back: 2024 A 1:57.50; 14th seed 1:56.05; 2028 A 1:56.05
- 100 Breast: 2024 A 59.49; 14th seed 59.27; 2028 A 59.27
- 200 Breast: 2024 A 2:09.68; 14th seed 2:09.35; 2028 A 2:09.35
- 100 Fly: 2024 A 51.67; 14th seed 51.06; 2028 A 51.06
- 200 Fly: 2024 A 1:55.78; 14th seed 1:54.69; 2028 A 1:54.69
- 200 IM: 2024 A 1:57.94; 14th seed 1:57.54; 2028 A 1:57.54
- 400 IM: 2024 A 4:12.50; 14th seed 4:11.78; 2028 A 4:11.52
Stroke 50 Qualification Overview
The new stroke-50 qualification process confirms the plan disclosed earlier: the top six finishers in each stroke-50 event at a designated World Cup stop in October 2027 will earn direct Olympic entry.
Details from the World Cup qualification document
- At each of the three World Cup 2027 stops, two of the new stroke-50 events will be contested.
- The six finalists will receive direct spots for that event at LA28.
- If there are ties for sixth, all tied swimmers earn a direct Olympic qualification.
- World Aquatics will publish the formal competition rules for the World Cup 2027 events in a separate document.
An athlete securing one of the six stroke-50 spots must have their place confirmed by their National Olympic Committee with World Aquatics to compete in LA. If an NOC declines, delays, or does not respond in time, the world No. 1 swimmer would take the slot. If the world No. 1 has already qualified, the seventh-placed World Cup swimmer would qualify instead.
Beyond these six World Cup qualifiers, any other swimmers already qualified in another event (or as relay-only athletes) may enter a stroke-50 event in Los Angeles, provided they meet the minimum time standard and their country stays within the two-per-country limit.
Stroke-50 Minimum Time Standards (Men and Women)
- 50m Back: 25.35 (Men); 28.59 (Women)
- 50m Breast: 27.71 (Men); 31.33 (Women)
- 50m Butterfly: 23.55 (Men); 26.57 (Women)
Relay Qualification Rules
The top 12 nations from the 2027 World Championships in Budapest, based on their heats results, will automatically qualify for the corresponding Olympic relay events in LA. If teams are tied for 12th, both earn Olympic spots.
NOCs can invite relay-only swimmers in excess of the direct relay spots, with the total number of additional relay competitors tied to how many relay events a country has qualified for. The framework allows for varied levels of additional relay entrants depending on each country’s relay participation.
In contrast to prior cycles, 2028 introduces a provision: if a country does not have a qualified relay in a given event but has four swimmers qualified individually, they may enter that relay, provided they notify World Aquatics by June 24, 2028.
Even if a nation earns a direct relay berth at Budapest 2027, it must still qualify at least two swimmers individually to field that relay in LA, due to the two-per-country and relay-entry restrictions.
NOCs without enough athletes to form a full relay team (fewer than four eligible swimmers via the A Standard, new event, B Standard invitation, or Additional Relay routes) will not be allowed to enter that relay.
Qualification window
The Olympic qualification period runs from March 1, 2027, through June 18, 2028.
About the author
James Sutherland is a sports journalist with a background in economics and a focus on swimming. His career includes collegiate competition and graduate studies in sports journalism.
Would you like this rewritten version tailored to a specific audience (e.g., fans, coaches, journalists) or adjusted for a shorter/longer format?
