Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The swimming program schedule was altered from previous Olympics, with prelims held in the evening and semifinals and finals in the following morning session. This shift was made due to a request by US broadcaster NBC, which paid substantial fees for rights and was allowed influence on scheduling to maximize U.S. television ratings. The finals could thus be shown live in the United States.

Reader's Guide

The 2020 Olympic swimming competition marked a notable expansion to 35 events, adding the men's 800 m freestyle, women's 1500 m freestyle, and the mixed 4 × 100 m medley relay. Qualification was based on FINA time standards, with countries able to enter up to two swimmers per event if they met the Olympic Qualifying Time, or one swimmer meeting the invitation standard. Relay events comprised 16 teams: the top-12 from the 2019 World Championships and the four fastest non-qualified teams from the preceding 15 months. The games were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but retained the 2020 designation. A doping controversy emerged in 2024 when The New York Times reported that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for Trimetazidine seven months before the games but were allowed to compete. WADA and CHINADA defended the decision, citing contamination, while USADA accused them of a cover-up. An independent investigation by Eric Cottier in July 2024 concluded WADA showed no bias and that the decision not to appeal was reasonable.

Did You Know?

• The swimming program featured a record 35 events, up from 32 at the previous Olympics.
• Prelims were held in the evening and finals in the morning, a change requested by NBC for U.S. live broadcast.
• 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for Trimetazidine seven months before the games but were allowed to compete.
• The mixed 4 × 100 m medley relay was one of three new events added for 2020.