July 2026
Des Moines, Iowa
JO Qualifier Meets
- Pocahontas, AR - Feb 14/15, 2026
- El Dorado - June/July, 2026
- Texarkana - June/July, 2026
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.
2026 - Des Moines, IA
2027 - Houston, TX
2028 - Baltimore, Maryland *Olympic Year
2029 - Greensboro, NC
2030 - Des Moines, IA
2031 - Houston, TX
2032 - Baltimore, Maryland *Olympic Year
2033 - Greensboro, NC
2026 - Des Moines, IA
2027 - Houston, TX
2028 - Baltimore, Maryland *Olympic Year
2029 - Greensboro, NC
2030 - Des Moines, IA
2031 - Houston, TX
2032 - Baltimore, Maryland *Olympic Year
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.