National Prospect Camp
Nov 29, 2026 - Dec 3, 2026 | Camp | Invite-Only | Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Many athletes that are eligible for Para swimming are already training and competing in swimming programs but may not realize there is a competitive pathway available to them in Paralympic sport. With the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games just two years away, now is the time to identify athletes who may be ready to explore the Paralympic swimming pathway.
Apply online today for the U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Prospect Camp.
The U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Prospect Camp will be held November 29 - December 3, 2026, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. This camp is by invitation-only and targeting athletes with swimming backgrounds who are looking to compete in Paralympic swimming and have not yet engaged in the performance pathway. Please note, no prior engagement in Para swimming events is required to apply for the camp.
All travel and camp-related expenses will be covered for selected candidates, including travel accommodations, lodging and meals at the Colorado Springs OPTC, and airport transportation in Colorado Springs. Selected candidates will undergo national classification evaluation, receive training from Paralympic national team coaches, and participate in performance education sessions.
Identified athletes can continue training with their current coach, team, and club while exploring opportunities within the Para swimming pathway. Connecting an athlete does not mean they leave their program; it simply opens the door to additional opportunities. As they progress, athletes may be encouraged to attend training camps, Para Swimming National Championships, and international competitions with Team USA.
Athletes will be evaluated for invitation to the camp based on:
- Eligibility to undergo classification within Paralympic swimming
- Background in swimming
- Alignment with performance standards for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games and U.S. Paralympics Swimming
Interested athletes should apply online. The deadline to apply for the U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Prospect Camp is Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Paralympic Pathway team today at Paralympicsport.info@usopc.org. One conversation could be an athlete's first step on their Paralympic journey to represent Team USA!
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. Paralympics Swimming are looking to connect with swimmers who have permanent physical, visual, or intellectual impairments. Common eligible health conditions could include, but are not limited to:
Vision impairment | Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, congenital glaucoma, albinism |
Coordination impairment | Cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurological impairments, ataxia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease |
Impaired passive range of movement (ROM) | Arthrogryposis, brachial plexus injury, Erb’s palsy, club foot |
Limb deficiency and/or limb length difference | Limb length differences, amputees or limb differences, amniotic band syndrome, proximal femoral focal deficiency, rotationplasty, dysmelia |
Impaired muscle power | Spinal cord injury, paralysis, spina bifida, post-polio syndrome, transverse myelitis, muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease |
Short stature | Achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, osteogenesis imperfecta |
Intellectual impairment | Autism, please note athletes must have an IQ below75 and have received their diagnosis before age 18 |
If you know an athlete who might qualify, you do not need to determine an athlete’s eligibility yourself. Please encourage them to connect with Team USA's Paralympic Pathway team at Paralympicsport.info@usopc.org to help assess whether they meet the criteria through the individualized classification process.