https://community.usms.org/events/USMS event information, management, and officiatingen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33234/enhanced-games/299602Sat, 31 Oct 2026 19:49:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:7215f266-03a4-416b-be6d-e12364505999GullSelective testing (as in USATF and USA Triathlon) is feasible and would not be cost prohibitive.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33234/enhanced-games/299601Sat, 31 Oct 2026 19:02:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:0118284e-3875-4328-8858-2d2285c549a2Allen StarkI’d like them to at least test USMS record setters but it is pathetic they don’t even say we condemn the use of PEDshttps://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33281/2027-order-of-events/299596Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:38:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:a69d5616-dd6f-4174-b83b-f2dc8d834f17Jim ClemmonsHi Michael Martin The event order has now been posted.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33285/2027-spring-nationals-order-of-eventsThu, 29 Oct 2026 20:10:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:01debdf9-68f8-44d2-85de-e926f8b7b85cDBrancampcommunity.usms.org/.../2027-Spring-Finalized-OOE.xlsxhttps://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33234/enhanced-games/299593Thu, 29 Oct 2026 02:07:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:d3aef0e4-080e-4557-a83f-4e281124157cGullWhich begs the question, will USMS finally and unequivocally take a position on the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and PEDs? Or is Masters swimming really, as the Night Swim Podcast suggests, “the OG EG”?https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33234/enhanced-games/299591Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:51:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:9091ed12-ce3d-4b36-91d4-0a950c3fc6dfAllen StarkWell saidhttps://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33234/enhanced-games/299590Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:20:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:e9fd5d47-e59d-457a-b581-5be57101809fGull“The vast majority of AAS and PED users are not competitive elites, but rather comprise millions of amateur individuals driven by body image or recreational goals. Shockingly, the corporate business model of the “Enhanced Games” explicitly intends to use the data derived from these elite athletes to market and sell personalized protocols to the general public through consumer platforms. Indeed, through their newly launched commercial platform, “Live Enhanced,” the organization operates a direct-to-consumer infrastructure that provides the general public with access to optimization protocols and performance medications under the guise of clinical oversight. Promoting and enabling PED use on a global stage erodes decades of antidoping education and threatens to trigger an unmanageable public health epidemic of illicit substance abuse. 8 Condoning PED use and celebrating those who accomplish otherwise unattainable athletic performance may lead to an underappreciation of attendant health risks and thereby set the stage for public health crisis of illicit PED use outside of professional sports. As a medical community, we must clarify that there is no “safe” protocol for the pharmacological transcendence of human biological limits. The pursuit of record-breaking performance through systemic doping poses a significant challenge to established standards of medical ethics, clinical practice, and public health. Cardiovascular professionals have a responsibility to look past the rhetoric of innovation and speak clearly to patients and the public about the risks of pharmacologic enhancement.“https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33234/enhanced-games/299589Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:02:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:946ee32e-4a2a-4d2d-9c97-8dc033da243aGullFrom the October 27 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. community.usms.org/.../valenzuela_2D00_baggish_2D00_2026_2D00_the_2D00_enhanced_2D00_games.pdfhttps://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33281/2027-order-of-events/299579Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:41:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:790089b1-833e-462e-8d3d-7c8e407e8f3aMichael MartinThanks Jay.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33281/2027-order-of-events/299568Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:05:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:fbef182e-6b0d-4e70-a288-ab5fec6d6217Jay EckertHi Michael Martin , the order of events is typically posted six months in advance. The Championship Committee is currently finalizing the OOE for 2027 USMS Spring Nationals. We'll plan to have that published next week.https://community.usms.org/events/f/pool-events/33282/unofficial-rankingsTue, 13 Oct 2026 21:55:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:eba47be2-609f-476c-8d69-f407483b60c5BettyLWhen will a link for 2026-2027 SCY rankings be posted? I noticed times from some fall meets are in the database and appear for individuals, but the latest SCY rankings available are for 2025-2026https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33281/2027-order-of-eventsTue, 13 Oct 2026 01:31:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:abe62dd8-7f29-46cb-916e-00405b7cd03aMichael MartinWhen will the order of events for the 2027 Short Course nationals be posted?https://community.usms.org/events/f/pool-events/33209/gender-and-competition/299535Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:49:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:5b893337-d0e5-438e-b02a-1affda79fbc407HCEAbsolutely agree Michael. My question, I am planning next years competition schedule. Nationals are in California and Virginia. Since USMS has not clearly taken a stand a male could swim as an identifying female in California win an age group event and receive the corresponding medal. But their time would not be considered for Top 10.. Since USMS has opted not to take a clear stand on defining what a women is and left the decision to each state jurisdiction.( likely to avoid more lawsuits) I have no interest in spending money to travel to California or Virginia to compete against a male who identifies as a female. My medical background does not define gender by how you feel or identify. There are without a doubt clear differences and advantages that a male has that do not disappear no matter what hormone you are taking. This really should not be this complicated. If anyone is aware of how the genders will be handled in these 2 states for nationals please advise.https://community.usms.org/events/f/pool-events/33209/gender-and-competition/299531Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:17:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:03d03d09-e803-4665-ad21-4a4dde951e50006F3Well said!https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33264/usms-national-pool-championship-endurance-event-caps-and-seeding---suggestions-for-improvement/299525Sat, 19 Sep 2026 03:42:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:5368f600-c646-44a1-9b36-529a58ef2de2Allen StarkI love your recommendations. In the 200 LCM breaststroke I really like to know who I’m swimming against and have them in the heat with me. If I’m swimming when it’s only seeded by time, I have no idea if the people around me are likely to swim their seed times or how they might be pacing when I’m going against my competition. It’s easier to figure out and a lot more funhttps://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33264/usms-national-pool-championship-endurance-event-caps-and-seeding---suggestions-for-improvement/299518Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:00:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:d879be6a-bcbc-4fa5-a8dc-035d934c90a4Rog HardyHi, Jennifer, and thanks for the reply. Comments: Why do i think four seeds should have the opportunity to swim together? While the number is a bit arbitrary, it is the max number that could be combined with the four top seeds from another age group in the same heat for timeline considerations. There would be actually two races for the championship going on at once, giving the announcer plenty to talk about. This would come into play more in the older, slower age groups with fewer entrants. Notice that I said, as a qualifier as I hope this is a discussion starter, 'at least four'. If there are more than four quality seeds capable of winning the age group, I think the coding should be set up to accommodate up to a full championship heat of eight, just like in the 'sprint' events. Should seed times be self-reported, or actual meet times? I will leave this to discussion. I think the majority of opinions over the years have supported actual times. SCY and LCM have conversions, and many commenters have pointed out the lack of meets in some regions. How far back? I dunno, two years? It would be fun to do forensics on the longer events at recent nationals to see if more relational software could shorten the total timeline.. Based on a glance at the mens 1500 at Sacramento, it looks like some time could be saved the way the swimmers got chopped up by starting by filling the fastest heat with eight and leaving the two slowest heats with three and seven swimmers. But i haven't done anything analytical yet. Of course in that event there were swimmers who whished to swim who were excluded altogether. I appreciate seeding is a tough call that has been mooted for decades. My basic purpose is to re-instill a sense of racing to the longer events while preserving the timeline. Thanks again.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33264/usms-national-pool-championship-endurance-event-caps-and-seeding---suggestions-for-improvement/299517Thu, 17 Sep 2026 02:28:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:9898c828-d483-4941-b1cb-2f499add0b08Jennifer TranThank you for giving more thought to the Championship event caps/seeding. 1. Is there a reason why you chose four top seeds as opposed to a different number? 2. For the top seeds in the event, should seed times be self-reported, or should they be checked with actual meet times? If the latter, what time should the system use? For example, LCM only for Summer Nationals? SCY only for Spring Nationals? How far back should it consider times? I'm curious whether you also re-did any heats from Nationals and whether you gave any time improvements back to the meet, since the most critical issue seems to be event caps instituted to ensure championship meets end at a specific time.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33258/2026-summer-nationals-event-cap/299515Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:58:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:9fa927ce-da7d-4d5c-8556-c75248a2daf6Rog HardyI am heartened to see continued constructive dialog on event caps at nationals. I am confident the championship committee considered improvements to the cap process at their recent meeting after nationals and will be bringing the issue to the upcoming national meeting. (The need for caps was anticipated – the committee’s 2025 minutes stated, “Will probably have to limit entries for events 200 and longer if attendance reaches expectations.”) And, the ways and means of capping are flexible – the rule cited, 104.5.3.C(2), says longer events MAY be capped, but does not dictate HOW. No need for rule changes for improvement! Replies in this thread suggested lots of ways to improve the cap process if needed in the future. I’ll just emphasize I saw a number of comments requesting a ‘heads up’ early in registration to the possible issue, and transparency during registration and administration of the waitlist. I have just now replied on the thread I created, "USMS National Pool Championship Endurance Event Caps and Seeding - suggestions for improvement". Please take a look, and hopefully discussions will continue toward improvements in seeding and caps for the nationals endurance events.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33264/usms-national-pool-championship-endurance-event-caps-and-seeding---suggestions-for-improvement/299514Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:57:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:f3b1fb6a-f9ca-4444-8018-aacd34080d86Rog HardyI SUGGEST USMS LEADERSHIP CONSIDER: Defending national champions and at least the top four seeds for each age group for ALL events be allowed access to national championships meets regardless of any event cap process. Defending national champions and at least the top four seeds for each age group for ALL events be seeded in adjacent lanes in the same heat. (If an individual has a seed time significantly faster than anyone else in their age group, they can have the option to be seeded in a heat with similar times.) RATIONALE AND MECHANICS First, I wholly support USMS vision of inclusion for all swimmers, new or champion, in all events and activities, including the national championships. waving a certain number of events from the National Qualifying Times for new swimmers. need for championship meet time-line rigor so a day ends at a civil hour. The dedication and time commitment of the USMS volunteers, especially under tight deadlines associated with large meets. The national championships are presently, however, in effect two meets being run concurrently: A national championship consisting of “sprint” 50 and 100 events each with a championship heat, and a “national swim festival” for “endurance” 200m and longer events consisting of time trials where top-seeded competitors with very close seed times are often split into different heats or across the pool, or recently, excluded from their core events entirely. I am aware of the flurry of work at a large meet after ‘positive check-in’. I am confident, however, that there are USMS members with high cognitive coding skills who could effectively devise software that could quickly seed endurance events that are more inclusive and competitive while preserving time discipline. When event caps are imposed, endurance swimmers might be locked out entirely while sprint swimmers have a chance to contend for a championship. As commented this is exclusionary to and discriminates against endurance swimmers. I am confident the actual number of events that swimmers exempt from caps under this suggestion might enter would be small and would not adversely affect the timeline. I realize this endurance seeding issue has come up in the past. Because of more comprehensive coding capabilities, however, I am suggesting the issue be re-visited. One reason swimmers new to competition come to nationals is to view and associate with world class competitors. My suggestions would provide a more balanced meet, with no contender excluded with endurance championship heats for beginning swimmers to watch, and more elite endurance swimmers at the meet to interact with. I feel this would far outweigh any vibe of elitism in exempting a few top endurance contenders from caps. New swimmers to nationals may the growth engine for USMS, but the core and lifeblood are the few national contenders who have competed for decades. These modifications will make way for way more interesting endurance events, with the announcer able to narrate a championship heat for all events and all age groups. Nationals are long days. Successful implementation of my suggestions will give the announcer more to talk about during endurance event championship heats, engaging spectators more fully and making for a more engaging day. Finally, I am aware USMS leadership has major issues to deal with these days. Tweaking our great national championships to be more inclusive and acknowledge our endurance champion contenders, however, won’t take that much work and will make for better meets. PERSONAL STANDING 45 year USMS member, occasional top ten postings. High school and college national caliber programs in the 1960’s Pay dues, workout and compete. Never volunteered in the USMS organization I look forward to discussions about these issues and my suggestions on this platform and in the upcoming meetings.https://community.usms.org/events/f/usms-national-championship-international-events/33258/2026-summer-nationals-event-cap/299501Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:47:00 GMT3187ac58-ba85-4314-b79a-c45cd885e09a:e7c247f8-1b59-43f4-abd6-fc01e6ebe243Jennifer TranThank you for this point! I am lucky that I'm based in Seattle, and 6-7 meets are offered each year within 1 to 1.5 hours of me, while my friends in the Niagara LMSC (where I'm from) frequently have to travel more than two hours for a maximum of 2-3 meets a year.