How World Aquatics’ New Wild-Card System Will Work At 2026 Short Course Worlds

By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
In May, SwimSwam reported that World Aquatics announced a new qualifying wrinkle for the 2026 Short Course Worlds, in which swimmers competing at the three-leg World Cup circuit in the fall, dubbed the “Silk Road Tour,” will have the chance to earn a wild-card berth to Short Course Worlds if they hit an “A” standard in their event.
World Aquatics has since publicized exactly how the wild-card system will work.
A swimmer must compete in at least