Updated 17 August 2024

NO ONE HAS THE "RIGHT" TO COMPETE. EVEN IF QUALIFIED, THERE IS NO "GUARANTEE" OF ENTRY INTO ANY GAME OR  COMPETITION.

Participation in any national (local Guam) or international competition with and through Guam Aquatics is a privilege, NOT a "right" and there is no "guarantee" of anything.

No athlete is entitled to compete nationally (local Guam) or internationally (off-island foreign). All competition nominations and entries are subject to the discretion of, and acceptance by, Guam Aquatics, the Guam National Olympic Committee, and/or the relevant organizing committee. 

As the recognized National Federation for aquatics, Guam Aquatics 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 Guam Aquatics 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 a local Guam swim meet organized by Guam Aquatics?

To be eligible to take part in official competitions organized by Guam Aquatics, an athlete must be a current registered competitor in good standing representing a member team of Guam Aquatics or a temporarily “unattached” athlete who is transferring between teams during a competition season.

Local guest athletes and athletes from foreign jurisdictions may be invited to participate in an invitational swim meet sponsored by Guam Aquatics. Foreign athletes who are members of anither national federation must provide clearance that they are in good standing and eligible to compete.

Is a visiting or guest athlete eligible to earn a Guam swim record?

No. Only an athlete who is a current registered competitor in good standing representing a member team of Guam Aquatics is eligible to earn a Guam swimming competition record.

An invited visiting or guest athlete is ineligible to earn a Guam swim record even if the time achieved during the meet is faster than the Guam record. However, the athlete’s time will be recorded, and if the meet is a podium competition, they may win awards and medals.

How is eligibility to swim in an international Flag Event competition held outside of Guam determined?

Subject to any other applicable requirements, the following is a basic general outline of how athletes are selected to attend a Flag Event[1] competition:

First, an athlete is eligible for consideration to compete and represent Guam in a Flag Event if the athlete has achieved the minimum qualifying time within the relevant qualifying time period in at least one event; is a current registered competitor in good standing representing a member team of Guam Aquatics; is not unattached or under sanction; and meets any and all other qualification and eligibility requirements.

Second, the athlete must fulfill the minimum age, residency, citizenship, fitness, and other requirements established by the host country, Guam Aquatics, GNOC, World Aquatics, or other organizing body assigned jurisdiction over the specific competition.

Third, the athletes who qualify by meeting the first two prerequisite criteria are nominated to the competition by their head coach depending on the athlete’s overall times, technical skill, maturity, fitness, ethics, and behavior.

For World Aquatics or other limited entry events, an athlete must have achieved at least a “B” qualifying time as established by World Aquatics for the particular competition. The qualifying times are announced in the months leading up to the event and are published on the World Aquatics 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 qualifying times, then except for the Olympic Games, athletes will be ranked and selected based upon application of the Base Time Proximity Standard. Regardless of rank or times, other criteria is considered including (but not limited to) technical skill, maturity, fitness, ethics, and behavior. The final selection of the team is made by Guam Aquatics.

For GNOC or Federation-level events, such as the Micronesian Games, Pacific Games or Oceania Swimming Championships (and depending on the criteria established by the host and the competition organizing committee), athletes are nominated by their head coach depending on the athletes’ qualifying time, technical skill, maturity, fitness, ethics, and behavior. If the number of athletes who may be entered in the competition is limited, then the Base Time Proximity Standard is applied. The final selection of the team is made by Guam Aquatics.

How are qualifying times determined?

Qualifying times, criteria, and standards are established by World Aquatics, the IOC, or the organizing body of the competition.

If no qualifying times are announced, then pursuant to the 1991 order of the GNOC Executive Board, the minimum qualifying times shall be equal to the times achieved by the third (3rd) place finishers in the “A” finals for each event during the last edition of the relevant competition. Subject to GNOC’s approval, Guam Aquatics may allow for minimum qualifying times equal to the time achieved by the last place finisher in the “A” finals for each event, which typically is the 6th or 8th place depending on the competition.

What is the minimum age to participate in an international competition?

Athletes must be at least fourteen (14) years of age on 31st December in the year of competition. If “A” and “B” qualifying entry times have been announced (e.g., World Aquatics Championships and Olympic Games), then younger competitors may participate if they have achieved at least the “B” Standard Entry Time in the respective event.

What are the minimum residency requirements to participate in an international competition?

The minimum residency requirements are established by the GNOC:

• If born in Guam, the athlete must have five (5) cumulative years of residing in Guam prior to the Opening of the Games/Event, not just in the year of competition.
• If NOT born in Guam, the athlete must have resided in Guam five (5) consecutive years prior to the Opening of the Games/Event, not just in the year of competition.

Proof of residency is required to be provided. Refer to the GNOC Residency Guidelines for further information.

How are athletes selected for the Olympic Games?

To be selected for the Summer Olympic Games, an athlete must achieve an “A” 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 be earned in a 50-meter 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.

What if no athlete achieves an “A” Olympic Qualifying Time?

If no athlete achieves an “A” Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), then the athlete may still be considered for the Games if the athlete has at least met the “B” Olympic Consideration Time (OCT)

If no athletes achieves either an “A” OQT or a “B” OCT, then 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.”

Universality entry places are not automatic or guaranteed. The decision to extend a Universality invitation is subject to the sole discretion of World Aquatics and the acceptance/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 athletes who have achieved the highest World Aquatics Points Table score in an individual 50m Olympic qualifying event during the relevant qualifying period are eligible for consideration to be invited.

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

Effective April 9. 2024, the updated rules for the Paris 2024 Olympics no longer require that athletes participate 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. Athletes entering through Universality are limited to a maximum of two (2) Olympic Games in his/her career or not being older than the age of thirty (30) years as of 1 January in the year following the year of the Olympic Games.

Regardless of qualification, points or anything else, the final decision as to who will be invited to participate in the Olympic Games rests solely within the exclusive jurisdiction and discretion of the GNOC.

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

If invited, a Guam Aquatics member swim team may permit its athletes to participate in an independent event (aka “club” meet) 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. If the head coach of the team requests that Guam Aquatics sanction the club meet as a non-Flag Event, the times achieved at the meet will be recognized and made eligible for records.

[1] A “Flag Event” is a competition sanctioned by Guam Aquatics and/or the GNOC as one where the delegation of athletes and officials is authorized to be called “Team Guam” and to nationally represent Guam as a country. The competitions recognized and sanctioned by Guam Aquatics as Flag Events are: all Guam Aquatics competitions, Guam Cocos Crossing, Micronesian Games, Pacific Games, Pacific Mini Games, East Asian Games, Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games, Oceania Aquatics Swimming Championships, all World Aquatics competitions, World Aquatics National Federation Member invitational events, Pan Pacific Games, Arafura Games, Youth Olympic Games, Olympic Games, and any other competitions that Guam Aquatics may in its discretion recognize as a Flag Event.