What is a qualifying time (QT) in swimming?

A qualifying time is the minimum time a swimmer must have recorded in an event to be eligible to enter a championship meet. Each championship publishes its own QTs per event, age group, and gender, and the time usually must be swum at a sanctioned meet within a defined qualification window.

What is the difference between state and national qualifying times?

State championships (for example, NSW State Age) set QTs that select the fastest swimmers in that state. National age championships set faster QTs again, designed to bring together the fastest swimmers in the country. Most swimmers qualify for state meets first; national QTs are typically several percent faster.

Do short course times count for long course qualifying?

It depends on the meet. Many long course championships accept only long course (50m pool) times; some accept converted short course times with a specified conversion. Always check the meet's entry conditions — and be aware that a short course PB is normally faster than the swimmer's long course equivalent.

How do I know which events my swimmer is close to qualifying in?

Compare their current best times against the published QTs for the target meet, event by event, using times swum within the qualification window and in the right course. A gap under about 2% is usually reachable within a season for younger age groups; the further through their teens a swimmer is, the smaller a realistic season gain becomes.

Parent's guide

How qualifying times work in Australian swimming

QTs decide which meets your swimmer can enter. Here is how the system works — state vs national, qualification windows, courses — and how to judge which events are realistically in reach.

A qualifying time (QT) is the minimum time a swimmer must have already swum in an event to enter a championship meet. Every championship publishes its own QT list — per event, per age group, per gender — and your swimmer needs to have recorded that time at a sanctioned meet, usually within a set qualification window before entries close. If you understand four things — the standard, the window, the course, and the gap — you understand the whole system.

1. The standard: state vs national

Think of QTs as a ladder. Club and district meets are usually open entry. State age championships set QTs that admit roughly the fastest swimmers in the state in each event. National age championships set faster standards again. The practical consequence: most swimmers chase state QTs first, event by event — a swimmer is rarely “qualified” in general, they are qualified in specific events.

2. The window: when the time must be swum

A QT only counts if it was achieved inside the meet's qualification window — commonly the twelve months or so before entries close, at a properly sanctioned meet. A great time swum outside the window does not count, which is why families plan which meets their swimmer races in the months before a target championship. Check each meet's entry conditions for the exact dates.

3. The course: long course vs short course

Championships are swum in either 50m pools (long course, LCM) or 25m pools (short course, SCM), and QTs are course-specific. Short course times are naturally faster because of the extra turns, so a long course meet will either require long course times or apply a conversion to short course times. Entering a long course championship off a short course PB without checking the conversion is one of the most common entry mistakes families make. Our short course vs long course guide covers the difference in detail.

4. The gap: judging what is realistic

The useful question is not “has my swimmer qualified?” but “how far away are they, event by event?” Expressed as a percentage, the gap tells you a lot: Australian data shows the median 10-year-old improves about 7% in a year, a 13-year-old about 4%, and a 15-year-old under 2% — so a 3% gap means something very different at 10 than at 15. Focus on the two or three events with the smallest gaps, and target meets inside the qualification window where a good swim would close them. Our data on how much swimmers improve each year gives the full curve by age, stroke, and gender.

QT lists, windows, and entry conditions are set by each meet's organisers and change season to season. Always confirm details in the official entry documents for the specific championship your swimmer is targeting.

Want to look up actual times? Our qualifying times calculator lets you browse QTs for every major Australian championship by age group and event — and enter your PB to see the gap instantly.

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