(CANCELLED DUE TO COVID) 2021 Virtus Swimming World Championships (Brazil)

With the cancellation of this event next Virtus competition is the 2022 Americas Regional Championships. Visit the event page to complete our Athlete Interest Form.

July 14, 2021 Update from Virtus: “It is with regret that this event has been cancelled due to the ongoing levels of infections, quarantine/travel restrictions worldwide and anticipated low entries. Virtus would like to thank Brazilian hosts CBDI for all their efforts and share their disappointment.”

July 1, 2021 Update from Virtus: The 2021 Virtus Swimming World Championships scheduled for Brazil are still under review by the Virtus Board and the Brazilian event organizers due to ongoing coronavirus challenges there.  Teams are still advised to wait to hear from Virtus before making plans to attend.  (If the event is confirmed as moving forward, Athletes Without Limits will post qualification times and additional details specific to US athletes.)

February 2021 Announcement: “Virtus is pleased to announce that Brazil will host the 2021 Virtus World Swimming Championships. The event will be hosted by Brazilian member organisation CBDI (Confederação Brasileira de Desportos para Deficientes Intelectuais) and will take place from 5th to 13th November 2021 in the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center, Sao Paulo.” This event is the first aquatic championship to be scheduled by Virtus after sport events have been cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Adilson Pereira Ramos, president CBDI said “We feel proud that CBDI can host the 2021 World Swimming Championships. With the effort of our board and technical team, through a consistent and victorious project, we managed to achieve this merit. We thank Virtus President, Marc Truffaut, for believing in our purposes, and those of our partners, to hold an event of excellent technical and organizational quality. We are honoured to welcome everyone who will be here for the World Swimming Championship 2021. With our arms open, we will give the best of ourselves, so that everyone feels the affection, the warmth, and the joy of Brazilian hospitality.”

Virtus President Marc Truffaut said, “I am very delighted that CBDI won the bid to host 2021 World Swimming Championship and look forward to a highly competitive event across all three Virtus eligibility groups.”

The 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games will set a competitive schedule that includes competition for athletes in the following:

• Virtus II1: Athletes with intellectual disability
  Athletes with an IQ of 75 or lower, Significant limitations in Adaptive Behavior and onset prior to age 18. Also called S-14 in Paralympic Swimming.
  
• Virtus II2: Athletes with intellectual disability and significant additional impairment
  This group includes most athletes with Down Syndrome and others who meet the II1 criteria and have additional (physical) impairment.
  
• Virtus II3: Athletes with autism who are not eligible in II1
  Virtus Trial group for athletes with Autism who do not meet the IQ and/or Adaptive Behavior criteria used for the II1 group.

Minimum qualification times have not yet been posted for the 2021 World Championships.