USA Swimming invites 56 athletes from underrepresented populations to participate in a three-day camp program at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Colorado Springs, CO on April 30 - May 3, 2026, which includes pool training, motivational and education sessions and team-building activities. Selection is based on times swum at USA Swimming sanctioned events. Applications are due February 15, 2026.
Click for for the link to the athlete application.
Goals of the camp:
To empower athletes from diverse backgrounds and diverse populations to:
- Demonstrate the viability of multicultural success in swimming
- Achieve performance excellence at every level of the sport
- Expound the benefits and value of participating in the sport of swimming
- Be positive leaders and role models that others from multicultural backgrounds can emulate.
Dates: April 30 - May 3, 2026
Location: Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Colorado Springs, CO
Camp Schedule: The National Diversity Select Camp will consist of four in-water workouts and a number of classroom sessions covering various topics. The goal is to provide ignition, motivation, and information for athletes to continue to set goals, work hard, excel in swimming, and feel empowered to take ownership of their swimming careers and roles within their community.
Cost: Each athlete selected for the camp will be provided lodging, meals, ground transportation to/from the designated airport and full airfare.
Qualification Standard
The National Diversity Select Camp will consist of 28 athletes from each competition category.
Athletes
must have achieved at least one National Diversity Select Camp time standard as shown
here to apply for selection. These times are the AAAA National Motivational Times for 13-14 year olds, even if the swimmer applying is 15 at the time of the swim. Times must have been achieved in a USA Swimming sanctioned or approved meet (able to be proven in the SWIMS database) between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2025.
Selection Criteria
- All athletes must be registered USA Swimming members at the time of the qualifying performance and at the time of the camp.
- All athletes must be registered USA Swimming Premium athlete members in good standing. Flex members must upgrade their membership to be eligible to attend.
- Athletes may represent an underrepresented community and/or an ethnically underrepresented population that is less than 10% of the current USA Swimming Athlete Premium membership base. These populations can include African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American and others. Other athletes may be accepted if they represent another diverse demographic. Diversity can be, but is not limited to, racial, geographical, cultural, or financial backgrounds.
- Athletes must be US citizens* and have not represented any other World Aquatics Federation at international competition.
- Athletes who have previously attended a National Diversity Select Camp, National Select Camp, or a National Team and/or National Junior Team camp are not eligible. Athletes can attend both Zone Select Camp and National Diversity Select Camp but cannot attend both camps within the same year.
- Athletes who have represented USA Swimming internationally are not eligible for camp.
- The fastest 2 applicants in each of the 14 Olympic pool events (excluding the 50’s of stroke) will be invited for a total of 28 athletes from each competition category. Only Long Course Meters events will be accepted.
- Doubles will be resolved by placing the athlete in their highest HY-tek power point event.
- The event qualifying period is January 1, 2025, through August 31, 2025. Athletes will be 14 or 15 years old as of the day of the qualifying swim submitted on the application.
*Athletes can be dual citizens, but their sport nation must be the United States, and they must have resided in the United States for at least twelve (12) months prior to the camp/ competition, according to World Aquatics rules.
Camp Eligibility
Qualifying period:
- January 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025. Only Long Course Meter times will be considered.
- Eligible athletes will be 14 or 15 years old as of the date of the qualifying swim.
NOTE: Athletes who wish to attend the National Diversity Select Camp shall be US Citizens and be able to represent the USA in international competitions in accordance with the rules set in place by World Aquatics. Athletes who are on or have been to any National Select Camps, National Teams/National Junior Teams, or USA Swimming international trips, will not be eligible for the National Diversity Select Camp. Athletes who previously attended the National Diversity Select Camp are not eligible. Athletes cannot attend Zone Select Camp and National Diversity Select Camp in the same year. Athletes must be Premium USA Swimming members. Flex members must upgrade their membership to be eligible to attend.
Athlete Application Process
The 2026 NDSC athlete application will open on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 and close on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm MT. Athletes will be notified of their selection no later than Friday, March 13.
The National Diversity Select Camps are application based. USA Swimming will provide a link to apply and will notify athletes of selection no later than six weeks prior to the start of camp. Athletes will be notified directly via email if they have been accepted to the camp. Coaches and parent(s)/guardian(s) will also be copied on this notification.
Disclaimer:
This event may be canceled by USA Swimming upon reasonable notice for any reason, including but not limited to a force majeure event. If deemed necessary, the event may be reassigned or rescheduled.
Questions?
For more information, click here or please contact Kristin Alfano
kalfano@usaswimming.org | 719-309-7198
