World Aquatics Announces $2 Million Prize Money Fund for World Short Course Championships
World Aquatics has announced that this year’s World Short Course Championships will feature a prize pool of more than $2 million. Scheduled for December 1-6 in Beijing, prize money will be presented to the first- through eighth-place finishers in each individual and relay event. Individual champions will receive $10,000 for their victories, with second place earning $8,000 and third place receiving $7,000. Fourth through eighth place will earn $6,000 down to $2,000.
Bonuses will also be rewarded for world records, with record-breakers earning $25,000 for a global standard, that money on top of their title payout. If a swimmer wins all three legs of an event during the World Cup series and adds a world title in the event, an additional $15,000 will be awarded.
“A prize pool of this scale for Beijing 2026 reflects our continued investment in the athletes who make aquatic sport what it is,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. “We want every swimmer stepping onto the blocks in Beijing to know their performance will be properly rewarded.”
The World Short Course Championships will be held in Beijing’s National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube. The venue was the site of the 2008 Olympic Games, where Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and set seven world records. For the first time, the United States will hold a qualification meet to represent Team USA at the World Short Course Champs. Trials will be held October 28-31 in Westmont, Illinois.