2025 @ Houston, TX
Information as of 3/14/2025 - Via am email from AAU
The AAU and the Houston Sports Authority are excited to announce that the swimming portion of the AAU Junior Olympic Games will be returning to the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Natatorium for the 2025 championships. After a successful event at the CFISD Natatorium in 2021, we are thrilled to return to this first-rate venue.
As in 2024, the Junior Olympic Swimming Championships will continue the format of two separately scored championships – the 12 & under championship and the 13-18 championship. The events offered will not change from 2024 and awards will still be distributed to the top 8 of each age, with the exception of the 9 and under age groups that are combined together.
As the size of the Junior Olympic Swimming Championships has continued to expand, a dynamic format was developed that takes its cues from the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games. Prelims and finals for each non-timed final event will be held on separate days. This will provide an important platform for the swimmers to showcase their skills and abilities as well as afford additional rest between preliminaries and finals.
The 12 and unders will compete each morning from Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27. Sessions will start at 8am and the days will alternate prelims and finals.
The 13-18 year-olds will compete from Tuesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 27. This 6-day format allows for morning and evening sessions each day, alternating prelims and finals. As above, the morning sessions will begin at 8am and the evening sessions at 3pm. Tuesday and Wednesday morning will be the timed finals of the distance events – the 1500 Free, 400IM and 400 Free.
As the CFISD Natatorium has one 50-meter, 8 lane pool, we will be running all preliminary sessions in 6 lanes providing one open lane for warm downs. Additionally, during the finals, the competition pool will be available during all award presentations. An additional 25-yard pool will be available nearby for practice times.
The AAU and the Houston Sports Authority are excited to announce that the swimming portion of the AAU Junior Olympic Games will be returning to the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Natatorium for the 2025 championships. After a successful event at the CFISD Natatorium in 2021, we are thrilled to return to this first-rate venue.
As in 2024, the Junior Olympic Swimming Championships will continue the format of two separately scored championships – the 12 & under championship and the 13-18 championship. The events offered will not change from 2024 and awards will still be distributed to the top 8 of each age, with the exception of the 9 and under age groups that are combined together.
As the size of the Junior Olympic Swimming Championships has continued to expand, a dynamic format was developed that takes its cues from the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games. Prelims and finals for each non-timed final event will be held on separate days. This will provide an important platform for the swimmers to showcase their skills and abilities as well as afford additional rest between preliminaries and finals.
The 12 and unders will compete each morning from Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27. Sessions will start at 8am and the days will alternate prelims and finals.
The 13-18 year-olds will compete from Tuesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 27. This 6-day format allows for morning and evening sessions each day, alternating prelims and finals. As above, the morning sessions will begin at 8am and the evening sessions at 3pm. Tuesday and Wednesday morning will be the timed finals of the distance events – the 1500 Free, 400IM and 400 Free.
As the CFISD Natatorium has one 50-meter, 8 lane pool, we will be running all preliminary sessions in 6 lanes providing one open lane for warm downs. Additionally, during the finals, the competition pool will be available during all award presentations. An additional 25-yard pool will be available nearby for practice times.
Entry Packet
The Entry Packet has not been released. That is where info about bonus events, non-time qualifying entries, entry deadlines, and more is found. The information is limited right now.
Track & Swim Overlap
The Entry Packet has not been released. That is where info about bonus events, non-time qualifying entries, entry deadlines, and more is found. The information is limited right now.
Track & Swim Overlap
- The track meet begins Saturday July 26th and overlaps with the swim meet. In the past, these 2 events have not overlapped. 10,000 people show up for the track meet.
- Accommodations become more pricey and difficult to find once track begins. If you are able to, go ahead and make reservations that can be cancelled for no additional fees.
- A 10 mile drive in Houston is not like a 10 mile drive here in Arkansas. Please keep in mind that traffic is going to impact all drive times.
2025 Schedule
12&U - Thursday July 24 - Sunday 27,
13-18 - Tuesday July 22 - Sunday 27
12&U - Thursday July 24 - Sunday 27,
13-18 - Tuesday July 22 - Sunday 27
For additional meet information please go to https://aausports.org/junior-olympic-games/swimming/
JO 2025 ~ Event Schedule
| 25-jos-swimming-schedule.pdf |
JO Qualifier Meets
- Pocahontas, AR - Winter 2024-2025
- El Dorado - Summer 2025
- Texarkana - Summer 2025
Change for JO Qualifiers:
Any swimmer with a BB time in any 50-100 yard event or A time in 200+ yard events will swim exhibition in that event. (For the Winter JO Qualifier and at the Last Chance Qualifier.) This has been voted on by Arkansas AAU coaches who attended the meeting this summer (2016-2017) and approved by the National Board. This change should allow more swimmers to qualify for JO. The updated USA Time Standards are below.
Any swimmer with a BB time in any 50-100 yard event or A time in 200+ yard events will swim exhibition in that event. (For the Winter JO Qualifier and at the Last Chance Qualifier.) This has been voted on by Arkansas AAU coaches who attended the meeting this summer (2016-2017) and approved by the National Board. This change should allow more swimmers to qualify for JO. The updated USA Time Standards are below.
First, second, and third place finishers in approved AAU District Swimming Championship Meets in individual events under 400M, will qualify. The approved Winter JO Qualifier will be held in Batesville, AR in November. The approved Summer JO Qualifier are in ElDorado and Texarkana..
In addition, swimmers ages 9-18 who meet or beat the USA Swimming long course “A” minimum time standard for all 200M, 400M and 1500M events and "BB” time standards for events under 200M are eligible to compete in the events where they meet the minimum time standards. Qualification for the 400M and 1500M is time only. The time standard must have been met during a bona fide competition during the period. AGE DIVISIONS: Girls & Boys: 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18
Suggested online conversion tool:
http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/results/conversions.asp
In addition, swimmers ages 9-18 who meet or beat the USA Swimming long course “A” minimum time standard for all 200M, 400M and 1500M events and "BB” time standards for events under 200M are eligible to compete in the events where they meet the minimum time standards. Qualification for the 400M and 1500M is time only. The time standard must have been met during a bona fide competition during the period. AGE DIVISIONS: Girls & Boys: 8 & Under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18
Suggested online conversion tool:
http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/results/conversions.asp
JO Event Locations
AAU Junior Olympics is held at the end of July/beginning of August each year.
2025 - Houston, TX
2026 - Des Moines, IA
2027 - Houston, TX
2028 - Baltimore, Maryland
2029 - Greensboro, NC
2030 - Des Moines, IA
2031 - Houston, TX
2032 - Baltimore, Maryland
2033 - Greensboro, NC
2025 - Houston, TX
2026 - Des Moines, IA
2027 - Houston, TX
2028 - Baltimore, Maryland
2029 - Greensboro, NC
2030 - Des Moines, IA
2031 - Houston, TX
2032 - Baltimore, Maryland
2033 - Greensboro, NC
How to Qualify for JO
Information released of 3/15/2024 - This information has not been updated for JO 2025.
First, second and third place finishers in approved AAU District Swimming Championship Meets in individual events under 400M, will qualify for the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Swimmers must place in the District Championship in a District meet vs. a heat of non-exhibition swimmers in the age division they will compete in during the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
In addition, swimmers who meet or beat the USA Swimming long course “A” time standard for all 200M, 400M and 1500M events and "BB” time standard for events under 200M are eligible to compete in the events where they meet the minimum time standards. Qualification for the 400M and 1500M is time only and they may not be entered as Bonus Events. The time standard must have been met during a bona fide competition during the qualification period, whether it was AAU, USA Swimming, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Parks & Recreation, etc. No yard times will be accepted. Yard times must be converted to long course meter times! Swimmers must list their time on the entry form and bring their time verification to the Championship.
Qualified swimmers may swim in bonus events, as approved, for 50M, 100M and 200M events. For every qualified event, a swimmer may enter 1 bonus event. At a minimum, it is suggested to have a “B” time standard to request approval for bonus events. Bonus events are subject to approval by the AAU National Aquatics Committee.
For the following events: 1) 400-meter Freestyle, 2) 1500-meter Freestyle and 3) 400-meter Individual Medley: These longer distance events will be held at the completion of the morning sessions as outlined in the schedule.
For the 8 & under swimmers, USA Swimming long course time standards have not been established. An entry time must be submitted for these swimmers to be used for seeding purposes and to verify that the athlete has swum in the event prior to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Entries without times (NT) will not be accepted.
In addition, swimmers who meet or beat the USA Swimming long course “A” time standard for all 200M, 400M and 1500M events and "BB” time standard for events under 200M are eligible to compete in the events where they meet the minimum time standards. Qualification for the 400M and 1500M is time only and they may not be entered as Bonus Events. The time standard must have been met during a bona fide competition during the qualification period, whether it was AAU, USA Swimming, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Parks & Recreation, etc. No yard times will be accepted. Yard times must be converted to long course meter times! Swimmers must list their time on the entry form and bring their time verification to the Championship.
Qualified swimmers may swim in bonus events, as approved, for 50M, 100M and 200M events. For every qualified event, a swimmer may enter 1 bonus event. At a minimum, it is suggested to have a “B” time standard to request approval for bonus events. Bonus events are subject to approval by the AAU National Aquatics Committee.
For the following events: 1) 400-meter Freestyle, 2) 1500-meter Freestyle and 3) 400-meter Individual Medley: These longer distance events will be held at the completion of the morning sessions as outlined in the schedule.
For the 8 & under swimmers, USA Swimming long course time standards have not been established. An entry time must be submitted for these swimmers to be used for seeding purposes and to verify that the athlete has swum in the event prior to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. Entries without times (NT) will not be accepted.
- Qualifying period is from JO the previous year through the entry deadline of the current year.
- Athlete’s age on the first day of the JO, shall determine the age of the competitor.