Swimming / Topic 02
Pool length and distances
World Aquatics · 2026In short
Long course and short course · Separate programmes and records
Long course and short course
Pool swimming uses courses of 50 metres or 25 metres. With electronic touchpads installed, the required racing distance is measured between the pads. A shorter pool means more turns for the same race distance.
Separate programmes and records
The event programme and recognised records distinguish between pool lengths. The 100 metres individual medley appears in the short-course programme. A short-course time should not automatically be treated as an equivalent long-course qualifying time.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent explanations of the supplied World Aquatics Competition Regulations, February 2026. This guide covers pool swimming only, not other aquatic disciplines. References use PDF viewer page numbers; topic numbers are editorial.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗