🏊‍♂️ TNYA’s Aquapalooza Masters Swim Meet Returns! 🌈

TNYA is thrilled to host Aquapalooza VI, our legendary masters swim meet, at the Apex Pool at Lehman College on Saturday, May 2, 2026! This event brings together masters swimmers from all over for a weekend of fierce competition, fun relays, and unforgettable social events.

Register Now!

💦 What’s in Store?

  • A fast, fun, and friendly meet at one of NYC’s top swimming facilities
  • A lineup of short course meters events – prepare for Gay Games Valencia!
  • Two epic parties—a pre-meet social & our famous Aquapalooza Plunge afterparty
  • The best vibes in queer aquatics!

🌈 Who Can Swim?

  • Open to all swimmers aged 20+
  • USMS or TNYA membership not required (USMS needed for times to be entered into regional/national Top 10 consideration)
  • Register for up to 4 events & 2 relays

🔥 Meet Format & Schedule
📍 Apex Pool, Lehman College (25m, 8-lane course + warm-up/cool-down lanes)

  • 9:00 AM – Warm-ups
  • 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Official Meet (all events are mixed gender):
    • 400 Freestyle
    • 100 Individual Medley
    • 200 Breaststroke
    • 200 Freestyle
    • 100 Butterfly
    • 200 Backstroke
    • 50 Freestyle
    • <BREAK>
    • 200 Butterfly
    • 50 Backstroke
    • 100 Freestyle
    • 100 Breaststroke
    • 200 Individual Medley
    • 800 Freestyle
    • 200 Medley relay
    • 400 Freestyle Relay
    • 50 Butterfly
    • 100 Backstroke
    • 50 Breaststroke
    • 400 IM
    • 200 Free Relay
    • 400 Medley Relay

🦆Try for your personal best! 

  • The ducks are back! Every swimmer who completes an event will receive a rubber duck (we need to get them out of our Co-President’s apartment) with a label commemorating their name, event, and time.
  • There are no places or categories at the event – but if you get a personal best, you can add an extra sticker to your duck to commemorate your achievement!
  • The meet is recognized by U.S. Masters Swimming (Recognition #066-R001). Times from this competition earned by event-license-holders in individual events will be eligible for USMS records and Top 10 consideration, but not for world records. See below for specific competition rules and protocols.

🎉 Social Events & Afterparty

  • 🍸 Pre-Meet Dinner & Cocktails – May 1, 6-9 PM @ TBC
  • 🏳️‍🌈 Plunge Tea Dance Afterparty – May 3, 5-8 PM @ TBC – dance floor and drink tickets. Each Plunge ticket entitles you to 2x drink tickets.

💡 Registration covers the meet and both parties. Bring your friends—entrance to the pre-meet dinner is free (cash bar) and extra tickets to Plunge afterparty available for $25!

🐦 Early Bird Admission – $55 available until Friday, April 3 // Standard Admission – $75

🏡 Need a place to stay?
If you’re traveling from out of town and interested in hosted housing with TNYA, email us at aquapalooza@tnya.org for more details.

👀 Ready to Dive In?

📚 Competition Rules and Details

  • Your age for purposes of this meet is however old you will be on December 31, 2026, per USMS Rule 102.2.1.
  • USMS 2026 rules govern this meet, except USMS’s policies regarding gender at meets which do not apply to recognized events like this one. Results will be reported to USMS only if (a) you request your results be reported at registration for this meet; (b) you are a USMS member with an “event license;” and (c) the event is not a relay. All events are mixed.
  • Because all events are mixed and places will not be awarded, there are no gender categories at this meet. Participants will not disclose their gender at time of registration. If participants choose to have their results reported to USMS, USMS will register those results under the gender category participants self-certified into when they completed their annual USMS registration.
  • Out-of-state guests should be aware that New York City and State law requires that gendered locker rooms be used by any person whose gender identity matches the gender designation of the locker room.
  • Primary timing system will be automatic timing. Times for this competition will be eligible for USMS records and Top 10 consideration, but not for world records.
  • No diving is permitted during warm-up except in designated one-way sprint lanes (if any). Swimmers are enjoined to enter the water in a cautious, controlled, yet fabulous manner. Violators will be remorselessly dragged.
  • The length of the competition course is in compliance and on file with USMS in accordance with articles 105.1.7 and 106.2.1, but as a bulkhead course, is subject to length confirmation. Eligibility of times for USMS Top 10 and records will be contingent on verification of bulkhead placement.
  • Swimmers will be seeded according to entry time, not by age or USMS gender. Heats will be conducted slowest to fastest; “NT” (no time) entries will be seeded as slowest. All events will be seeded and heat sheets posted after swimmer check-in has closed.
  • The meet will be conducted as a timed finals meet.
  • Although teams are strongly encouraged to enter relays at time of registration, we will accept relay entries on deck on the day of the meet as well.
  • Any swimmer who intends to post a USMS Top 10 or USMS national record split time must visit the computer table prior to the conclusion of the meet to complete and submit the official split time request paperwork in writing. Initial backstroke split requests must be submitted prior to swim.
  • Results will be emailed to competitors following the meet conclusion.