LEN President Antonio Silva has welcomed the news that USA Swimming shall send a number of promising young athletes to the inaugural European U23 Championships in Ireland.
It follows the announcement earlier this month that Dublin 2023 – 11-13 August – would be an ‘open’ competition and permit one team from each continent to enter the event.
“It’s very important because this helps to validate the competition, by bringing the one of the most powerful swimming teams in the world to Dublin,’ said President Silva.
“We expect other teams from other continents, after learning this, will propose to come to Dublin so it’s a very good motivation for us all.”
All competitors shall be aged between 19 and 23 years by 31 December in the year of competition, with the minimum age category being 19 years.
However, as per the initial competition details revealed last month, for the 2023 Championships a Federation may enter a maximum of one competitor per event aged 14-18 years (born 2005-2009) as part of the four competitors per event regulation.
“International competition experience is vital to a developing swimmer’s progression,” USA Swimming National Team Managing Director Lindsay Mintenko said.
“This meet fits really well in the quad as we prepare for Paris. We’re appreciative of the opportunity to compete at the inaugural U23 Championships.”
Finals will be swum over 10 lanes, featuring a maximum of two non-LEN member athletes.
There will be one medal ceremony per-event, which separates the ‘Open’ from the LEN member Federation swimmers.
“This is the first edition of an innovative competition with different events and dynamics so I think it’s very good for aquatics, U23 swimmers and for the hosts in Dublin,” continued president Silva.
“Creating an U23 Championships is part of a global ideal to help the transition from junior and age-group to senior elite level and not only is it good for the future development of aquatics in Europe, but also around the rest of the world.”
The LEN European U23 Swimming Championships shall be held at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) on the Sport Ireland Campus.
The venue, in Dublin, last hosted international championship competition in 2018 with the World Para Swimming European Championships.
It previously held the 2003 European Short Course Swimming Championships during its first year of operation and Dublin 2023 will mark the 20th anniversary since this landmark event.
Rules and regulations relating to Dublin 2023 are details below, while details about the competition schedule will be revealed soon.
