The next world aquatics championships, which include swimming, have been pushed back from July 2021 to May 13-29, 2022. They will still be in Fukuoka, Japan.
FINA, the international governing body for swimming, diving, water polo and artistic (synchronized) swimming, officially announced the postponement for the first time Monday, along with the new dates.
The new Tokyo Olympic dates in July and August 2021 overlapped with the original dates for world championships in track and field and swimming.
Track worlds, set for Eugene, Ore., were moved to July 2022 in an April 8 announcement.
It’s believed aquatics worlds, held 18 times since the start in 1973, have never taken place in May. They have almost always been in July and August, save times Australia hosted during its warmer months.
A May swimming worlds could allow for the major summer meets in even, non-Olympic years -- European Championships, Pan Pacific Championships -- to still be held. FINA has not commented on that scenario.
USA Swimming targets an August return to competition from the coronavirus pandemic.
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