Op Gold & Performance-Based Bonuses

In an Olympic and Paralympic Games year, teams and individuals must place in the top-three at the Olympic and Paralympic Games to qualify for an Operation Gold Event Award; multiple Operation Gold Event Awards can be received if an athlete has multiple top-three finishes at the Olympic or Paralympic Games. World Para Swimming does not have an Operation Gold eligible event in 2026.

In non-Olympic and non-Paralympic Games years, Operation Gold Awards are limited to one award per athlete in the Term; athletes who qualify for more than one award automatically receive the higher award.

Individuals must finish in one of the top eight places, while teams must finish in one of the top-six places at the qualifying event in a discipline on the program of the Olympic or Paralympic Games to qualify for an Operation Gold Award in a non-Olympic or non-Paralympic Games year. For the purposes of Operation Gold, a team is defined as three or more athletes (pairs are awarded at the same rate as individual athletes).

The payment amounts for Operation Gold Event athlete results are as follows:

The USOPC has designated the following elite-level events as part of its expanded Enhanced Operation Gold program. U.S. Paralympics Swimming will assist in the management of the Enhanced Operation Gold program for the designated events listed below.

Performance based bonuses for these identified Enhanced Operation Gold events will be distributed by USOPC directly to qualified athletes as outlined in Attachment C.

Performance based bonuses will be provided by gender to athletes who attain results at U.S. Paralympics Swimming 2026 National Championships and who are current National Team A, B, U23 and Rising Stars team members in good standing. A ranking list will be created and swims will be ranked in order of each swim’s percent comparison (“P”) to the U.S. Paralympics Swimming National A Standard. Payments will not be awarded if the percentage is more than 15 percent of the standard. Athletes are eligible for one performance incentive at the event. The payment of funds will be processed by the first Friday of the subsequent month following the event.

P = (swim time/Standard) x 100

All comparisons will be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of a percent. A lower comparison (P=101.4%) is better than a higher comparison (P=102.7%).

2026-2028 Stronger Than You Think Performance Fund  

A powerful wave of support is propelling U.S. Paralympics Swimming toward the LA28 Paralympic Games. Thanks to an extraordinary and generous donation from the organization, Stronger Than You Think, we are launching a groundbreaking performance incentive fund—a three-year investment in our U.S. athletes’ dreams, their dedication, and their pursuit of excellence. 

This is more than financial support, it is a statement. A statement that our U.S. Paralympics Swimming athletes deserve the opportunity to be true professional athletes, to devote themselves fully to their sport, and to chase greatness without compromise. 

Every additional hour in the pool, every ounce of energy poured into training, every moment free from financial worry—brings them closer to their best. And their best can inspire a nation, redefine what’s possible, and light up the podium in Los Angeles. 

Purpose: 

• Incentivize elite-level performance on the pathway to the podium in LA 2028.
• Professionalize U.S. Paralympics Swimming by creating athlete earning opportunities.
• Reward performance across classifications equitably using the WPS point system.

Guiding Principles: 

• Performance-based — awards tied to measurable outcomes.
• Classification equity — WPS points ensure athletes of all classifications can win.
• Sustainability — same or increasing prize structure through the quad.

 Events Offering Performance Incentives: 

• 2026 – 2026 Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
• 2027 – TBA
• 2028 – TBA

Eligibility Criteria: 

• U.S. Citizen and eligible to compete for Team USA at the LA28 Paralympic Games.
• International classification required 
• Current WPS licensed required
• Be in good standing with U.S. Paralympics Swimming and USOPC
• Be in good standing with USADA 
• Events to be eligible per gender: 50m free, 100m free, 200m free, 400m free, 50m back, 100m back, 50m breast, 100m breast, 50m fly, 100m fly, 150m IM, 200m IM (24 events)
  • These events are run under multi class competition format where athletes swim events and progress to finals based on the LA28 event program for their classification. Athletes are allowed to “swim up” a classification in their respective division (PI and VI) if declared at the time of entry. Points are determined using the World Para Swimming Points System. 

 
Performance Fund Structure: 

The top 3 per event, as stated above, using World Para Swimming points, run under multi-class competition format, are eligible for prize money as long as the athlete meets the eligibility criteria above.  

The program is designed to distribute equal or increasing funding across the three years leading through the 2028 LA28 Paralympic Games. Any unused or remaining funds from earlier years (unclaimed podiums in medal events) will be reallocated to increase incentive fund distributions in 2027 or 2028. This ensures that the full donor investment directly supports athlete performance within the program cycle. 

World Record Bonuses at WPS Approved Plus Events: 

A one-time prize money bonus payout for athletes who break a world record in an LA28 medal event at a World Para Swimming Approved Plus Events (or higher-level event such as World Championships, WPS Sanctioned Events, and Paralympic Games) in 2026, 2027, and 2028 will be paid $10,000 in a one-time payout. The record can only be broken by the same person at the same competition, one time. Additionally, WPS must accept and recognize the new world record for payment to occur. 

2026 Funding: 

• 1st place: $3,472.00 
• 2nd place: $2,083.00 
• 3rd place: $1,389.00
• World Record: $10,000.00