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2024 USADSS & AWL Open National Swimming Championships (Florida)
November 7, 2024 - November 10, 2024
2024 AWL USADSS Inaugural National Swim Meet Photo by Andi Sligh
Athletes Without Limits (AWL) and USA Down Syndrome Swimming (USADSS) are uniting to host America’s first Open National Championship for swimmers with Intellectual Impairments including Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome and Autism. This Short Course Meter (SCM) event will be held November 7-10, 2024 at the Rosen Aquatic Center in Orlando, Florida.
ABOUT THE MEET:
The meet will be professionally timed and officiated by USA Swimming, World Aquatics and/or World Para Swimming licensed officials. Sanctioning of the event is being sought through Virtus, the International Federation for athletes with Intellectual Impairment, opening the event up to swimmers around the globe and making results valid for international records and rankings.
Venue:
Rosen Aquatic Center, Orlando Florida
Pool Specifications: 25 METER COURSE
Competition Groups:
There will be three Internationally recognized competition groups for Intellectual Impairment that include athletes with Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome and Autism (see below). Classes will be further divided by gender and age.
- II-1: Intellectual Disability (IQ of 75 or lower and significant limitations in Adaptive Behavior) includes Autism w/Intellectual Disability
- II-2: Additional Impairment/Down Syndrome (Athletes with Intellectual Disability who also have Trisomy 21 or Translocation Down Syndrome or Similar Additional Physical Impairment)
- II-3: Autism (sometimes referred to as High Functioning Autism)
Who’s eligible?
- U.S. Athletes who have applied for National level Virtus/Paralympic eligibility through Athletes Without Limits are eligible to compete in the National Championships (II1, II2 or II3 groups).
Click here to apply for AWL Eligibility. - U.S. Athletes with Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome who are registered with USADSS are eligible to compete in the National Championships (II2 group).
Click here to register with USA Down Syndrome Swimming. - Individual International athletes who have eligibility through their Virtus Member country or the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation (DSISO) in their country are also eligible to compete in the Open championships (II1, II2 or II3).
Time Standards:
The format for the event is short course meters. Swimmers must meet a minimum qualifying time standard MQS in at least one event to participate, but can then swim 3 events per day at the meet. (See Table Below)
Note: Minimum times must be achieved between Oct 1, 2023 and Sept 30, 2024. Please use the chart below to determine if your athlete qualifies for the event. Be careful to note if your athlete was in a Short Course Yard (SCY), Short Course Meters (SCM), or Long Course Meters (LCM) event when submitting times.
Session Dates & Times:
| Session | Warm Up | Meet Starts |
| Thursday, November 7 | 3:15 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Friday, November 8-PRELIMS | 7:15 AM | 9:00 AM |
| Friday, November 8-FINALS | 3:15 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Saturday, November 9- PRELIMS | 7:15 AM | 9:00 AM |
| Saturday, November 9- FINALS | 3:15 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, November 10- PRELIMS | 7:15 AM | 9:00 AM |
| Sunday, November 10- FINALS | 3:15 PM | 5:00 PM |
Registration:
Online registration closes Oct 1, 2024. has been extended to Oct 13! for the USADSS/AWL Open National Championship! We have had an enthusiastic response from both USA and international swimmers. We look forward to seeing you all in Orlando Nov 7-10, 2024, Where Champions Unite! Please encourage families and coaches that you know to register early and reserve their hotel room ASAP.
Registration Fees
- $175 entry per swimmer for 3.5 days of competition
- $25 for one on-deck support person (coach, parent, club staff, etc.) with access to Warm-up Pool only and who has taken online Safesport Certification Course A. Athlete Protection Training (90 min) either through USA Swimming (coaches) or directly by creating an account on the Public Safesport Website. (Note there is an additional one-time Virtus eligibility review fee for new swimmers.)
- For new swimmers there is a separate one-time eligibility review fee (see eligibility application).
REGISTRATION PAGE & SCHEDULE
Hotels: Book Early!
- Host hotel: Embassy Suites ICON Park 8250 Jamaican Court Orlando, FL 32819 (.6 miles from facility)
Embassy Suites Room Block - Other Hotels: There are many hotels within walking distance to the Rosen Aquatic & Facility Center at reasonable rates Google Map Hotels
Questions:
Please read the Meet Packet & FAQ information provided above and all the information listed on the event registration page. If you still have questions about the logistics of this meet you can contact the Meet Directors by phone or email (listed on the registration page). If you have questions specifically about Athletes Without Limits (AWL) and Virtus eligibility for this meet please send us a message using our Contact Us form.
Congratulations to the 100 swimmers who competed in this years event!
