By Liz Rosenthal on SwimSwam
2026 Fort Lauderdale Open
Wednesday, April 29 – Saturday, May 2, 2026 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center Hosted by Swim Fort Lauderdale LCM (50 meters) Prelims/Finals All the Links Meet Central Psych Sheet Results: “Fort Lauderdale Open” on Meet Mobile Meet ResultsBy now, savvy swim fans already know about the sensational swims, stunning stats, and record-setting results from the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open.
But what you might not know?
While the swims were fast and the field was deep, it wasn’t supposed to be this big.
What began as a modest meet on the Florida Gold Coast Swimming summer calendar quickly evolved into one of the hottest stops on the national stage. So how did it happen?
Last year, Fort Lauderdale reinforced its reputation as one of swimming’s premier racing destinations, hosting a stop on the 2025 Pro Swim Series tour. The meet was electric, producing world-record performances from a formidable field of top-tier talent. Athletes and fans alike fell in love with Fort Lauderdale, and everyone wanted more.
In 2026, while swimmers and coaches were eager to return, the meet was no longer a Pro Swim Series event. As such, this year’s competition was originally designed to host roughly ten teams from around the Florida Gold Coast Swimming LSC.
But Dave Gibson, head coach of Swim Fort Lauderdale, had bigger ideas.
“When I found out we were not being asked to host a TYR Pro Swim Series stop in 2026, I started thinking maybe we could do a meet on our own,” said Gibson, who served as co-meet director alongside his wife, Jennifer.
From there, it was a steady build.
“I thought if I could get the Big 3 pro teams—Florida, Virginia, and Texas—to commit, then we might have something,” Gibson explained. “I reached out to those coaches first, and then to teams like NC State, ASU, Bolles, Sarasota, Nashville, Auburn. They were all saying, ‘Count us in,’ so it just grew from there.”
Even without the Pro Swim title, swimmers came back because they wanted to!
As interest surged, meet organizers recognized that every aspect of the event had to evolve to deliver the demands of a world-class meet. Although they had done it before, it quickly became an all-hands-on-deck situation.
Gibson and his team began assembling the infrastructure to match the field.
He tapped veteran officials Kathy Fish (not to be confused with the USA Swimming board member with the same name) and Allan Golding to help lead the officiating crew and oversee administrative operations. The meet took another step forward with the addition of World Aquatics observers, including deck referee Trish Martin and starter Lisa Vetterlein, who also served as a starter at the Paris Olympics. Their presence ensured that performances met international technical standards and that times and records would be globally recognized.
With the foundation in place, the planning continued, from hospitality and ticketing to media and athlete experience. Also amping up the atmosphere was the return of announcer Kevin Cargill, the familiar voice of the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, as well as last year’s Pro Swim meet. SwimSwam’s Coleman Hodges and Mel Stewart jumped in to fill the demand for a livestream so swim fans everywhere could follow along. And Greg Huskey with Omega Timing was brought on board to ensure the timing system ran seamlessly.
It was a heavy lift, but it wasn’t carried alone.
“Swim Fort Lauderdale has some awesome parents and Masters swimmers who stepped up to help,” Gibson said. “We filled every timer slot for every session.”
More support came from Laura Voet and the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center staff. The Fort Lauderdale Dive Team Booster Club ran concessions, and Jennifer Gibson herself balanced co-meet director duties with overseeing hospitality and other responsibilities.
Even the weather cooperated.
Even with its rapid growth, the meet remained true to its initial time standards, keeping qualifying within reach for a uniquely diverse field. From high school and club swimmers to NCAA standouts to World Champions and Olympians, there was a lane for everyone. Fort Lauderdale was a place where they all could race. And the addition of a C Final for 18 & Under athletes created more opportunities to earn a second swim.
Prelims were wide open, showcasing the depth of the field. Younger swimmers tested themselves against the best in the world, and many delivered lifetime-best performances. Athletes as young as 12 stepped up to the blocks seeking to proclaim their place among the sport’s next generation.
By finals, the atmosphere felt like Olympic Trials.
And on that beautiful South Florida weekend, the Fort Lauderdale Open wasn’t even the only game in town. In addition to swimming, the Formula One Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium, and the PGA’s Cadillac Open at Trump National Doral made it a sports fan’s dream weekend.
But swim fans are swim fans, and they do what swim fans do.
They show up and watch swimming! (Myself included.)
Even after the final race, the weekend in the sun wasn’t quite done! In the afterglow of her world record in the 100 butterfly, Gretchen Walsh talked about hitting the beach, while Leon Marchand was spotted trackside at Formula One on Sunday.
Looking ahead, all eyes will be on the Florida Gold Coast Swimming calendar to see what the Fort Lauderdale Open becomes next. Demand is likely to be high once again, as Faster in Fort Lauderdale is no longer just a slogan.
With all of the positive feedback, Gibson hopes they can make it happen again next year. “There is something special about this place—especially at finals at night,” Gibson reflected. “Just look at the world records set here.”
The sun sets on the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open. Photo by Liz Rosenthal
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Even Without the Pro Swim Title, Fort Lauderdale Was the Place to Race
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