National Diversity Select Camp

 

USA Swimming invites up to 56 athletes from diverse populations to participate in a three-day camp program which includes pool training, motivational and education sessions and team-building activities. Selection is based on times achieved at USA Swimming sanctioned events.

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.
Athlete Application Process

The 2026 NDSC athlete application will open on Wednesday, January 21 and close on Sunday, February 15 at 11:59 pm MT. The application will be linked to this page. 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.

Qualification Standard

Athletes must have achieved at least one National Diversity Select Camp time standard to apply for selection. These times are AAAA National Motivational Times for 13-14 year olds. Times must have been achieved in a USA Swimming sanctioned or approved meet (able to be proven in the SWIMS database).

SELECTION CRITERIA

The camp will consist of up to 28 athletes from each competition category.

 

Athletes must represent a diverse community and/or an ethnically diverse population that is less than 10% of the current USA Swimming membership. These populations can include African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian or Pacific Islander, Native American and others. Other athletes may be accepted if they represent another diverse demographic.

 

Full 2026 Selection Criteria coming soon.

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.

2026 SITE

Location: The US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Dates

April 30 - May 3, 2026

Cost
Each athlete selected for the camp will be provided lodging, meals, ground transportation to/from the designated airport and full airfare.
Home Coaches

The coach of the selected athlete is also invited to attend the National Diversity Select Camp. The Home Coach will take part in their own coaches’ clinic alongside the camp.  Home Coaches will be provided up to $200 in airfare reimbursement from USA Swimming.

 


Camp Staff

Staff for the National Diversity Select Camps will be selected in two ways. USA Swimming staff will appoint the Head Coach for each camp. Four assistant coaches & two managers may be selected by an application process.  Applications will be posted to this webpage on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. 

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. 
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.
Statement of Inclusion
The US Center for Safe Sport and USA Swimming prohibit discrimination against any member or participant on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity is prohibited (304.3.3). In the event that a question should arise about whether an athlete’s request to participate in a manner consistent with his/her/their gender identity is bona fide, USA Swimming will refer to the Code of Conduct and follow its standard procedures of enforcement.
Questions?

For more information, please contact Kristin Alfano.

 

kalfano@usaswimming.org  |  719-309-7198

NATIONAL DIVERSITY SELECT CAMP ROSTERS

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