By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
After USA Swimming CEO Kevin Ring broke the news last month on the SwimSwam Podcast that the organization would increase its financial support for professional National Team athletes, the national governing body made it official in a press release on Thursday.
USA Swimming announced that the increased funding would take effect immediately for U.S. National Team professionals enrolled in the Athlete Performance Funding (APF) program who have agreed to the Athlete Partnership Agreement (APA).
As reported in December, swimmers who are part of the APA will see their annual support increase from $39,000 to $45,000 ($3,750 per month), an increase of just over 15%.
Additionally, professional athletes who do not sign the APA agreement will earn $27,000 annually, while NCAA and prospective NCAA athletes will earn $21,000.
2025-26 Athlete Performance Funding Amounts
Qualified professional athletes who sign APA – $45,000 annually ($3,750 monthly) Qualified professional athletes who don’t sign APA – $27,000 annually ($2,250 monthly) Qualified NCAA Athletes – $21,000 annually ($1,750 monthly) Qualified pre-enrollment NCAA eligible athletes – $21,000 annually ($1,750 monthly)The increased payments began in January, and the current funding period runs through August 31, 2026.
This marks the first increase in professional athlete support since the inception of the APA in 2010. USA Swimming has also increased the number of athletes receiving APF to 30 per gender, up from 26 men and 26 women in 2021.
The top 60 pool swimming athletes (30 men and 30 women) will receive Athlete Performance Funding based on the following criteria:
Qualified for the 2025-26 U.S. National Team and ranked #1 in their respective individual Olympic event(s) Qualified for the 2025-26 U.S. National team and ranked #2, 3 or 4 in the 100 and 200 free If all athletes listed above have qualified for funding and fewer than 30 athletes per gender meet the requirements, all remaining members of the National Team who are ranked #2 in their respective event will be ranked based on their fastest percentage of the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard in their event. The process will continue with those ranked #3, #4, #5 and #6 until 30 men and 30 women have qualified for APF.For open water athletes, the top four (two men and two women) will receive APF based on the following criteria:
Highest place finisher in the 10K at the 2025 World Championships 2nd highest finisher in the 10K at the 2025 World Championships If an athlete didn’t finish the event due to injury, illness, or safety concerns, they will be considered a “finisher.”Joey Tepper and Dylan Gravley were the top two American finishers in the men’s 10K last summer at Worlds, while Mariah Denigan and Brinkleigh Hansen were the top two U.S. women.
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