Australian open water swimmers fight to keep sport in 2032 Brisbane Olympics

World champion Moesha Johnson, an Olympic silver medallist, and teammate Nick Sloman are leading a campaign to prevent open water swimming from being removed from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic programme. They warn that axing the event would damage a sport they describe as part of Australia’s sporting DNA and would have broader community and mental‑health impacts.

The International Olympic Committee is reviewing the Brisbane schedule and plans to cut the number of sports from the 36 slated for Los Angeles 2028. Australian head open‑water coach Fernando Possenti said the sport is “running out of time” to secure its Olympic future. The swimmers have reached out to the Australian Olympic Committee and World Aquatics to rally support.

If successful, the sport would remain on the Olympic roster, preserving opportunities for future generations of high‑performance athletes and community participants.