Swimming NSW's vision for our Performance Pathway Program is to create opportunities that develop our coaches and athletes through continual improvement in our systems and competitions, leading us to be the number one swimming State in Australia.
You can view our state squad overviews, selection criteria and selected team members below.
2019-2020 Performance Pathway Program
Olympic Pathway
Performance Squads
Swimming NSW's Performance Squads are designed to support current national team members and transitioning athletes. Transitioning athletes refers to those moving from age group swimming to open swimming or open swimming to either national squad or senior benchmark event selection.
There are three tiers (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and the Open Water Performance Squad within the Performance Squad pathway.
Gold Performance Squad
- Selection Criteria
- Squad Members
Athletes who are selected as a Swimming Australia (SAL) Categorised Athlete in the Olympic Program.
Read the full 2019 Gold Performance Squad Selection Criteria.
Silver Performance Squad
- Selection Criteria
- Priority 1
- Athletes who meet the squad qualifying time in a 2019 Australian Open Final, Australian Age Final or Australian Trials A Final
- Priority 2
- National Medallists at the 2019 Australian Open or Australian Age Championships
- Finalist in Olympic Events at the 2019 Australian Trials (must swim in the A Final)
- For A Final only events or Timed Finals, athletes who are in the Top 8 at the 2019 Australian Trials (Olympic Events only)
- Qualifying Times
- Squad Members
Female athletes aged 16 years and over and male athletes aged 17 years and over as at the first day of the selection meet.
Only the following performances will be considered for squad selection:
Read the full 2019 Silver Performance Squad Selection Criteria.
Bronze Performance Squad
- Selection Criteria
- Finalists at the 2019 Australian Open and Age Championships (must swim in the Final)
- for Timed Final events, top 8 placing
- B Finalists in Olympic Events at the 2019 Australian Trials (must swim in the B Final)
- for A Final only events or Timed Finals, top 16 placing
- Squad Members
Females aged 16 years and over and males aged 17 years and over as at the first day of the selection meet.
Only the following performances will be considered for squad selection:
Read the full 2019 Bronze Performance Squad Selection Criteria.
Open Water Performance Squad
- Selection Criteria
- Top 5 placing in 5km and 10km Open events at the Australian Open Water Championships
- 6th – 10th placing in the 5km and 10km Open events at the Australian Open Water Championships (regardless of Visitors)
- Male and female 18-19 year old: 1st – 5th placing in the 10km or 5km
- Male and female 16-17 year old: 1st – 5th placing in the 7.5km or 5km
- Squad Members
Athletes aged 16 years and over who swim at the 2019 Australian Open Water Championships and attain the following results (regardless of visitors):
Priority 1
Priority 2
Read the full 2019 Open Water Performance Squad Selection Criteria.
Sharks Squads
Swimming NSW's Sharks Squads are designed to identify and provide support for emerging age group swimmers and their coaches. Talented swimmers will have the opportunity to:
- Enhance education, develop skills and gain exposure to varied opportunities away from their daily training environment.
- Create a supportive environment for emerging swimmers to develop their skills and swimming knowledge in preparation for National Junior Team and/or Talent Identification (TID) Squad selection.
The NSW Sharks structure consists of two tiers: Gold and Silver.
Sharks Gold Squad
- Selection Criteria
- Swimmers who swim a SNSW Sharks Gold Squad qualifying time in a 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championship Final (or top 8 in Timed Final events)
- Medallists at the 2019 Australian Age Swimming Championships
- Females & Males aged 14-15yrs: Gold Medallist in the 5km Age events at the Australian Open Water Championships (regardless of visitors)
- Qualifying Times
- Squad Members
The following performances will be considered for squad selection:
Priority 1
Priority 2
Open Water
Read the full 2019 Gold Sharks Squad Selection Criteria.
Sharks Silver Squad
- Selection Criteria
- Squad Members
Swimmers who are 2019 Australian Age Finalists (must swim in the final or are in the top 8 of Timed Final events) who are not selected in the SNSW Sharks Gold Squad or;
Open Water
Females & Males aged 14-15yrs: Silver & Bronze Medallists in the 5km Age events at the Australian Open Water Championships (regardless of visitors)
Read the full 2019 Silver Sharks Squad Selection Criteria.
Paralympic Pathway
Para Performance Squad
- Overview
- Selection Criteria
- Squad Members
To provide financial support to NSW Para categorised athletes for Senior Para benchmark competitions.
Athletes who are a Swimming Australia (SAL) Categorised athlete in the Paralympic Program.
Read the full 2019 Para Performance Squad Selection Criteria.
Para Potential Squad
- Overview
- Selection Criteria
- 2019 SNSW State Open Swimming Championships (March 2019)
- 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships (April 2019)
- 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships (April 2019)
- Swimmers selected on the SNSW Para Potential Squad are ineligible for selection in Area Development Squads.
- Swimmers selected on a Swimming Australia Team or Squad will not be eligible to continue with the SNSW Para Potential Squad.
- Qualifying Times
- Squad Members
To provide Para Potential swimmers with opportunities to enhance their training and competition development. Activities would provide greater exposure to a performance training environment that would improve performances to achieve selection onto a National Team or Squad. The SNSW Para Potential Squad would undertake the SAL Testing Protocols (where applicable).
Swimmers must achieve one (1) SNSW Para Potential qualifying time in a Final at one of the following long course Championships (Paralympic events only):
In addition:
Read the full 2019 Para Potential Squad Selection Criteria.
Para Development Squad
- Overview
- Selection Criteria
- 2019 SNSW Open Swimming Championships (March 2019)
- 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships (April 2019)
- 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships (April 2019)
- Swimmers selected on the SNSW Para Development Squad are ineligible for selection in Area Development Squads
- Swimmers selected on a Swimming Australia squad/team will not be eligible to continue with the SNSW Para Development Squad
- Qualifying Times
- Squad Members
To provide talented Para swimmers with an educational component to assist with their training and personal development. The aim of the activities would contribute to swimmers maintaining motivation and improving performance to achieve selection onto a National Team or Squad.
Swimmers must achieve one (1) SNSW Para Development qualifying standard at one of the following long course Championships (Paralympic events only):
In addition:
Read the full 2019 Para Development Squad Selection Criteria.
