FINA Announces Postponement of 2022 World Championships
Share:
by USA Artistic Swimming
FINA announced changes to the international events calendar today, including the postponement of this year's World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. The Championships, originally intended to be hosted in 2021, are now scheduled for July 2023 in the same location. The reasoning for the additional postponement is the current pandemic situation and health measures in Japan. The Qatar World Championships that were slated for November of 2023 will now be pushed back to January 2024. Six months later, the 2024 Olympic Games will be hosted in Paris. While the changes were anticipated, training schedules and goals for thousands of athletes worldwide will now shift to maximize competitive potential.
The changes leave a packed schedule for the 2023 and 2024 competition years. Ultimately, amid countless postponements and cancellations caused by the pandemic, there have always been positive effects for the USA and the overall artistic swimming community. While the calendar leaves minimal in-person competition opportunities for 2022, having more time to prepare for World Championships will allow time for the new squad to grow together in maturity, execution and synchronization.
"While we are disappointed for our senior national team athletes, we will continue to show our resilience. The athletes and staff are already working toward a new vision and goal for 2022. Unfortunately, USAAS fans will not get to cheer on our team at the FINA World Championships this year, but our fans will have opportunities to celebrate this team as they continue to strive to reach their potential and represent USA," USA Artistic Swimming CEO, Adam Andrasko, said.
The changes leave a packed schedule for the 2023 and 2024 competition years. Ultimately, amid countless postponements and cancellations caused by the pandemic, there have always been positive effects for the USA and the overall artistic swimming community. While the calendar leaves minimal in-person competition opportunities for 2022, having more time to prepare for World Championships will allow time for the new squad to grow together in maturity, execution and synchronization.
"While we are disappointed for our senior national team athletes, we will continue to show our resilience. The athletes and staff are already working toward a new vision and goal for 2022. Unfortunately, USAAS fans will not get to cheer on our team at the FINA World Championships this year, but our fans will have opportunities to celebrate this team as they continue to strive to reach their potential and represent USA," USA Artistic Swimming CEO, Adam Andrasko, said.
