By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) has updated its interim eligibility policy to comply with state and local nondiscrimination laws.
USMS established an interim policy in June 2025 to allow members to register for the competition category that aligns with their identity, but for competition purposes (being part of the USMS “Recognition Programs”), athletes would only be eligible if they were competing in the category that aligns with their sex assigned at birth.
In an announcement on Thursday, the organization clarified that eligibility for local recognition programs, such as event awards and points scored, will be determined by state or local law moving forward.
USMS said in its press release:
USMS sanctions hundreds of events each year in jurisdictions with differing legal requirements. Nondiscrimination laws govern how local recognition programs must be administered. The updated policy clarifies how USMS will administer local recognition programs in accordance with those legal requirements while maintaining consistent national recognition procedures.
For national recognition programs, including USMS records, top 10 times, and All-American honors, eligibility in the women’s category will continue to be based on sex assigned at birth, while there is a new, renamed men’s/open category that is open to all members.
For participation purposes, USMS will “continue to allow members to swim in the competition category that aligns with their gender identity and/or expression.”
“One of our responsibilities as a national organization is to ensure our events are operated in compliance with the laws of the jurisdictions where they are hosted,” USMS CEO Dawson Hughes said.
“This update provides clarity and ensures USMS can continue offering sanctioned events across the country as we continue to pursue our mission of empowering adults to improve their lives through swimming.”
The organization said the event information available prior to each meet will indicate whether the national recognition procedure or the local recognition procedure applies.
“USMS’s eligibility policy remains interim as it continues to monitor legal developments and adjust its policies as necessary to remain compliant with evolving federal, state, and local laws,” the press release said.
See the updated interim eligibility policy here and the policy FAQs here.
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