Feature Story

December 2020

USA Swimming Recognizes Top-Performing Clubs

The Nation's Capital Swim Club, located in the Washington, D.C., area, has claimed the No. 1 spot again in the USA Swimming Club Excellence Program—its seventh consecutive year in the top spot. Every year, USA Swimming's Club Excellence program recognizes the organization's highest-performing clubs in the development of athletes ages 18 and younger.

Nation's Capital Swim Club posted 71,900 points, outdistancing runner-up Swim MAC Carolina in North Carolina by more than 24,000 points. Dynamo Swim Club in Georgia, NOVA of Virginia Aquatics and Mason Manta Rays in Ohio rounded out the top five for 2021.

Now in its 21st year, the Club Excellence program identifies clubs that execute strong, well-rounded programs to produce elite athletes 18 years old and younger. Due to limited long course meters (LCM) competition access during the 2020 summer season, the senior development committee chose to honor all 2020 Club Excellence Clubs in the 2021 program. Clubs with limited access to competition will not lose status in this challenging year, but clubs that have been able to compete will be recognized and able to improve their medal status. The date range used to calculate points for the 2021 Club Excellence Program were July 1, 2019 to Aug. 31, 2020.

The top 20 clubs earn a Gold-level ranking. In addition to all the 2020 Gold Medal clubs, six new members earned a Gold Medal, for a pandemic-unique top 26. Those rates 21 to 100 are designated as Silver honorees, in addition to all 2020 Silver Medal Clubs. The next 100 clubs are recognized at the Bronze level.

Each team's ranking score is based on the FINA Points Table, a power point rating system that assigns point values to individual swimming performances based on the Gold, Silver or Bronze time standard.

Bellevue Club Swim Team (Penn.) and Elmbrook Swim Club (Wis.) achieved a Gold Medal ranking for the first time. Since the inception of the program 87 different clubs have earned the Gold Medal ranking at least once.

Out of the 235 clubs recognized at the Gold, Silver and Bronze levels, Illinois Swimming led with 14 clubs recognized, followed by Southern California Swimming, with 13.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senior Development Committee reassessed the program requirements and grant funding process for 2021. For 2021, the program will provide grant funding for 78 clubs across the country. These grants enable clubs to expand and enhance their programs as they strive for the highest ideals of athletic performance.

For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.