TYR Pro Swim Series Format Shifts to Better Prepare Athletes for LA28
As preparations continue for the LA28 Olympic Games, USA Swimming is implementing format adjustments to provide athletes with more opportunities to compete under international-style conditions.
Beginning in 2026, the TYR Pro Swim Series will feature an updated competition structure. Certain events will transition to a prelims/semifinals/final format, while one distance event at each meet will be contested as prelims/finals. The change is designed to mirror the racing environment athletes experience at major international meets and enhance long-course racing opportunities throughout the season. With the change, TYR Pro Swim Series meets will expand to four full days of morning and evening sessions as opposed to the traditional three-and-a-half-day format.
“In preparation for what’s ahead in LA28, it has become clear we need to create more long-course racing opportunities for our National Team,” said Greg Meehan, Managing Director of the National Team. “This new format at TYR Pro Swim Series meets in 2026 is a great first step by contesting some events in a prelims/semifinals/final format or a prelims/final distance format. It’s especially important in 2026 without a traditional nine-day meet to finish the long-course season.”
Each TYR Pro Swim Series stop will feature a slightly different event order created by the USA Swimming National Team Division. Additionally, prize money for specific events has been increased from $1,500 to $3,000 to encourage competitiveness and reward winners of the events with new format changes.
Updates to each competition are listed below, while the full schedule for each stop can be found here.
| Event | Date | Format Change |
| TYR Pro Swim Series Austin | January 14-17 | • Women’s 800 freestyle swum as prelims/final • 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, and the 200 IM will be swum as prelims/semifinals/final • Prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of all 50s, the 200 IM, and the women’s 800 freestyle |
| TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont | March 4-7 | • Men’s 800 freestyle swum as prelims/final • All 100s swum as prelims/semifinals/final • Prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of the 100s and men’s 800 freestyle |
| TYR Pro Swim Series Sacramento | May 20-23 | • Women’s 1500 freestyle swum as prelim/final • 200 Butterfly, 200 Backstroke, 200 Breaststroke, and 200 Freestyle swum as prelims/semifinals/final • Prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of the 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 freestyle, and women’s 1500 freestyle |
| TYR Pro Swim Series Indianapolis | June 17-20 | • Men’s 1500 freestyle swum as prelims/final • Prize money increase to $3,000 for winners of the 400 IM, 400 freestyle, and the men’s 1500 freestyle |
These adjustments align with USA Swimming’s broader focus on performance development leading into the next Olympic cycle. By replicating the physical and mental demands of championship-style racing, the TYR Pro Swim Series continues to serve as a critical developmental platform for National Team and National Junior Team athletes on their path to LA28.
For more information on upcoming events, visit www.usaswimming.org/events.