Updated 09 April 2024

NO ONE HAS THE "RIGHT" TO COMPETE.  
Participation in any national (local Guam) or international competition with and through Guam Swimming is a privilege, NOT a "right," and no one is entitled to compete nationally (locally) or internationally. All competition nominations and entries are subject to the discretion of, and acceptance by, Guam Swimming, the Guam National Olympic Committee, and/or the relevant organizing committee.

As the recognized National Federation for aquatics, Guam Swimming  abides by the Fundamental Principles of Olympism and the Olympic Movement as set forth in the IOC Charter, including the IOC rules governing Invitations and Entries:

"Any entry is subject to acceptance by the IOC [and/or relevant sanctioning authority, including GSF and GNOC], which may at its discretion, at any time, refuse any entry, without indication of grounds. Nobody is entitled as of right  to participate in the Olympic Games [or any other games or competition]."  [Source: Olympic Charter Rule 44(3); GNOC Code of Conduct (“Membership on the Guam National Team. . . competing Internationally and Nationally . . .is an honor and a privilege.”)].

At all times participation in any GSF or GNOC event, including selection to participate in off-island events, is based “not only on the sports performance of an athlete but also on their ability to serve as an example to the sporting youth of the country. The NF (GSF) must ensure that the entries comply in all respects with the provisions provided by FINA. The NF is responsible for the behavior of the members of its delegations.” [Source: FINA Good Governance Guidelines Article 5.1].

Who can swim in an official meet sponsored by Guam Swimming?

To be eligible to take part in official competitions organized by Guam Swimming, an aquatics athlete must be a current registered competitor in good standing with a member team of Guam Swimming. However, an unregistered (aka “unattached”) athlete may informally join a team’s practice sessions if the team permits it. Unregistered athletes may also participate in a GSF swim meet if invited.

Athletes from jurisdictions outside of Guam who are invited to participate in an International Swim Meet sponsored by Guam Swimming may swim in that invitational meet provided that their national federation affirms that they are in good standing and eligible to compete.

Is a visiting athlete from off-island eligible to hold a Guam swim record?

No. Only an athlete who is a current registered competitor in good standing with a member team of Guam Swimming is eligible to hold a Guam swimming competition record and/or a Guam time.

A visiting athlete or an invited unregistered athlete is eligible to win medals at a GSF swim meet, but not to hold a swim record even if the time achieved during the competition is faster than the Guam record.

How is eligibility to swim in an international meet held outside of Guam determined?

Subject to the requirements of the particular competition, the following is a basic outline of how athletes are generally selected to attend international competition:

First, to be eligible to represent Guam at any international GSF or GNOC-sanctioned gaming event,[1] an athlete must be a current registered competitor in good standing with a member team of Guam Swimming; and

Second, the athlete must also fulfill the age, residency, eligibility, and qualification requirements as are from time to time promulgated by GSF, GNOC, World Aquatics, or other organizing body assigned jurisdiction over the specific competition; and

Third, if the athlete meets the first two criteria, then selection to the team depends on the particular competition. No two international meets are ever alike. Each differs depending on the requirements of the government of the host country, the event organizing committee, and the applicable qualifying times.

For the Micronesian Games, Pacific Games, Olympic Games, and other GNOC-sanctioned events, qualified athletes are nominated by their head coach depending on criteria that includes (but is not limited to), the athlete’s times, technical skill, age, maturity, fitness, residency, citizenship, ethics, and behavior. All nominations shall be subject to the GNOC selection and approval process.

There is generally no quota limiting the number of athletes who can be on the team. However, regardless of any athlete or official’s application for nomination to a GNOC-sanctioned event, the final decision as to who will actually be selected and permitted to participate in the event rests solely within the exclusive jurisdiction and discretion of the GNOC.

For World Aquatics events (including the 25M and 50M World Championships), an athlete must have achieved at least a “B” qualifying time as established by WA for the particular competition. The qualifying times are announced in the months leading up to the event and are published on the WA website.

Athletes who equal or better the qualifying times in one or more individual events are automatically qualified to participate in the competition. If there are no athletes who meet the World Aquatics qualifying times, then the top two athletes of each gender whose times come closest to the qualifying times shall be considered for participation.

The swim times eligible for consideration must be earned either at a Guam championship meet or else at a World Aquatics-sanctioned meet held outside of Guam within the applicable qualifying time period. Swim times shall be ranked, and athletes shall be selected, based upon application of the Base Time Proximity Standard. Regardless of times, other criteria that shall be considered include (but is not limited to) the athlete’s technical skill, age, maturity, fitness, residency, citizenship, ethics, and behavior.

Guam’s quota for World Aquatics Championship competitions is limited to a maximum of four athletes: two (2) males and two (2) females. Entering more than four total athletes is not permitted. Entering more than two of a gender is also not permitted even if the quota of four athletes is not reached (for example: a team of three males and one female, or three females and zero males, is not allowed). Each athlete may swim two individual events, plus the mixed team relays. Event entries are made at the discretion of the national team coach after consultation with the athlete.

For Federation-level invitational events such as the Pan Pacific Games, the Arafura Games or similar (and depending on the criteria established by the host and the competition organizing committee), qualified athletes shall be nominated by their head coach depending on criteria that includes (but is not limited to), the athlete’s times, technical skill, age, maturity, fitness, residency, citizenship, ethics, and behavior. The final selection of athletes is made by the GSF.

How are athletes selected for the Olympic Games?

To be selected for the Summer Olympic Games, an athlete must achieve an Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) within the qualifying period as established by World Aquatics for the particular Olympic Games. Athletes who equal or better the OQT in one or more individual events are automatically qualified to participate in the Olympics.

The OQT must have been earned in a 50M long course pool during an Olympic-qualifying competition sanctioned by World Aquatics and held during the applicable qualifying period. Short course (25Y and 25M) times and non-Olympic qualifying competitions that are not sanctioned by World Aquatics do not count towards the Olympics. The OQTs and the qualifying period are announced in the months leading up to the Olympics and published on the World Aquatics website.

Regardless of qualification, times, points, or anything else, the final decision as to who will actually be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games rests solely within the exclusive jurisdiction and discretion of the Guam National Olympic Committee.

What if no athlete achieves an Olympic Qualifying Time?

For the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, athletes must qualify by minimally meeting the “B” Olympic Consideration Time (OCT) established for those Games.

If no athlete achieves an Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), World Aquatics may invite GNOC to allow two athletes [one (1) male and/or (1) female] to attend the Summer Olympic Games through “Universality Placement.” Entering more than two athletes under Universality, or entering two athletes of the same gender, is not permitted.

Effective April 9. 2024, it is no longer required that athletes have participated in the World Aquatics 50M World Championships held in the year before the Olympic Games in order to be eligible for consideration of a Universality invitation.

The decision to extend a Universality invitation is subject to the sole discretion of World Aquatics and the approval of the GNOC, which has exclusive jurisdiction and control over Guam’s participation in the Olympic Games.

Unlike the World Championships which utilizes the Base Time Proximity Standard to determine selection, and subject to any other criteria that may be established, only the male and/or female athlete who has achieved the highest World Aquatics Points Table score in an individual 50M Olympic qualifying event during the relevant qualifying period is eligible to be invited.

Swim times and points earned outside of the qualifying period, or in a 25Y or 25M event (to include the World Aquatics 25M World Championships), or in a non-Olympic qualifying competition do not count towards the Olympics.

An athlete entering through Universality is limited to a maximum of two (2) Olympic Games in his/her career provided the athlete is not older than the age of thirty (30) as of 31st December of the Olympic year.

What other off-island meets can Guam aquatics athletes attend?

If invited, a GSF member swim team may permit its athletes to participate in private “club meets” held off-island provided that the meet is not organized or sponsored by an international gaming/sports organization or by the national federation of the country in which the meet is held.

[1] Including but not limited to e.g., Micronesian Games, Pacific Mini Games, Pacific Games, East Asian Games, Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games, Arafura Games, Oceania Swimming Championships, all World Aquatics competitions, Pan Pacific Games, Youth Olympics, and Olympic Games.