A Look at the Schedule for the World Short Course Championships
The 18th edition of the World Short Course Championships is rapidly approaching, with competition scheduled to run from December 1-6 in Beijing. The iconic Water Cube, which was the site of the 2008 Olympic Games, will serve as the venue for the six-day meet. China previously hosted the event in 2006 (Shanghai) and 2018 (Hangzhou).
Because the competition is held over six days, as opposed to the nine-day format of the long-course World Championships, there will prelims, semifinals and finals for the 50-meter and 100-meter events. The 200- and 400-meter events will feature prelims and finals, while the 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle events will be conducted via the timed-finals format. Relays will utilize a prelims-finals setup.
United States athletes should benefit from the six-day schedule, as their qualifying meet was held in a condensed four-day window, with only distance-freestyle action held on Night One. With additional days on the schedule, the likes of Virginia’s Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh should be fresher for their events, although they will add relay duty to their programs.
Each night of the World Short Course Championships will include at least one relay final, with the opening and closing nights featuring a pair of relays. On Night One, relay gold medals will be handed out in the men’s and women’s 400 freestyle relays, while the last night of the meet will crown champions in the men’s and women’s 400 medley relays.
