Qualifying window dates confirmed for 2024 summer events

Entry to the key, end-of-season events is by invitation only, from long-course performances recorded in the designated qualifying window.

The 2024 events will see an increase in the number of swimmers offered the opportunity to compete. The 28 top-ranked swimmers in each event in each of the four younger age groupings will be invited. In the 18 years & over age group, 36 swimmers will be invited to attend with 12 places guaranteed for the transitioning 18 years old swimmers. The only exceptions to these numbers are the 800m and 1500m events, where the top 20 swimmers will be invited across all age groups

In addition to the increased numbers of invitations, following the 2023 coaches survey and consultation with key stakeholders, there are some changes to this year’s format, which are detailed below.

The 2024 British Summer Championships will take place at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield from 20th-26th July.

WHO ARE THE BRITISH SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR?

The meet ONLY caters for the following categories of swimmer:

1. Swimmers who are currently eligible to represent and have Great Britain as their recognised country of international representation with World Aquatics (irrespective of where in the world they live and train), and
2.  Foreign nationals who live and train in the United Kingdom for the majority of the calendar year in a British swimming club/programme. 

No exceptions will be made - any athlete who does not sit within one of these categories will not receive an invite to compete.

Entries will only be accepted from competitors registered as members of a British Swimming Home Nation - Swim England, Scottish Swimming or Swim Wales.

CHANGES TO THE FORMAT

Following a consultation process with coaches, which included an online survey coupled with meetings with key Home Nation staff, we are pleased to announce that this year will see further revisions to the Summer Championships format.

1. Ages for males & females - 13/14 years, 15 years, 16 years, 17 years, 18 years and over
2. No 50m events for 13/14 years
3. As per last year, qualification for all 50m events is via the rankings for the equivalent 100m event in the 15, 16, 17 years age groups. Qualification for the 50m events in the 18+ years is via ranking times.
4. Para-swimming events will take place across 23rd-26th July inclusive of the British Summer Championships (specific dates to be confirmed in due course) and follow the four-day British Para-Swimming International Meet [BPSIM] programme of events.

HOME NATION MEET CHOICE

Swimmers can choose to be entered into a Home Nation Summer Meet in two ways:

1. Country of their ranked club (first claim club in Scotland)
2. Country of International Representation

Swimmers should note, however, that when identifying qualifiers for the Home Nations meets, the automated system in place assumes athletes wish to be categorised by the country of their ranked club. 

There is no direct relation to any decisions you made to attend any of the December 2023 Home Nation Winter meets or any previous Summer Meet decisions.

Swimmers wishing to be entered in to a Home Nation Summer Meet based on International Representation MUST complete the following form HERE. If you have any questions please email HNMeetChoice@swimming.org 

Information must be received no later than 5pm on Tuesday 7th May 2024. There will be no exceptions, and no changes will be made after this time. 

OPTING OUT

A dual approach to opting out will be taken. The idea behind the opt-out is to ensure that as many of the available places at the British Summer Championships are filled, with no empty spaces in events. Swimmers not wishing to compete in events are requested to withdraw to ensure other swimmers can be invited to the British Summer Championships and the respective Home Nation Summer Meets.  

Swimmers can opt out of:

• All summer meets (2024 British and the Home Nation meets)
• 2024 British Summer meet only (but available for Home Nation meet if invited)
• 2024 Home Nation meet only (but available for British Summer meet if invited)

Swimmers wishing to opt out of any of the above, please complete the following form via the link HERE by 5pm Tuesday 7th May 2024. 

Swimmers will receive reminder emails during the window asking them to indicate their summer choice. Please note these reminder emails will be sent to the email address stated on the swimmer’s Online Membership System account. 

ENTRY MECHANISM

The invite list for the British Summer Championships will be created on 15th May 2024 and invitations issued thereafter. At this point the invite lists for the Home Country Competitions will also be finalised and published.

In keeping with the process for the British Swimming Championships in April, para-swimming multi-classification participation will be by invitation only. Thereafter, the entry mechanism is as above.

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS REMINDERS

To ensure that your invitation arrives, can you please ensure your email address is up to date through your Home Nation online membership system.

Further reminders of key dates and milestones will be posted on www.britishswimming.org 

Click here for more details about the Scottish Swimming Summer Meet

Click here for more details about the Swim Wales Summer Meet