A new division for college and university swim teams is about to provide a positive impact to the traditional swim experience, especially for distance swimmers and coaches. ISCA’s East Coast Open Water Festival gives college and university athletes a new stage for endurance, racing intelligence and head-to-head competition.
ROANOKE, Va. — July 23, 2026 — College and university swimmers will have a new competitive opportunity this season when the International Swim Coaches Association brings a university division and a 5-kilometer event and an open water knockout to the 2026 East Coast Open Water Festival, September 26–27 at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Virginia.
The expanded college program gives distance swimmers a rare chance to move beyond the lane lines and test the skills that open water demands: endurance, positioning, drafting, navigation, adaptability and closing speed.
Long-distance swimmers are often asked to contribute points within the traditional pool-meet format while receiving fewer opportunities to become the central attraction. At Smith Mountain Lake, the distance swimmers move into the spotlight.
The 5K will challenge athletes to manage pace, packs, feeds, conditions and race strategy over an extended open water course. The knockout event adds a different form of pressure, using repeated rounds and elimination racing to reward speed, tactical awareness and recovery.
“College distance swimmers deserve more opportunities where their strengths become the main event,” said Rick Walker, retired Southern Illinois University coach and longtime USA Swimming Open Water National Team coach. “A 5K reveals endurance, judgment and toughness. The knockout brings urgency and head-to-head racing. Together, they give college swimmers a competitive experience that the traditional pool schedule cannot provide.”
Walker retired after 32 years as coach at Southern Illinois University. He served for more than 13 years as head coach of USA Swimming’s Open Water National Team and was the head Egyptian Olympic swimming coach for the 2012 London Games. He currently chairs the PanAm Aquatics Open Water Committee and the World Aquatics Open Water Referee and Officials Committee.
Throughout his career, Walker has coached athletes at the Olympic Games, World Championships, NCAA Championships and national championships in both pool and open water swimming. He has also conducted swimming and open water clinics around the world.
“Open water asks swimmers to think while they race,” Walker said. “They must read the course, respond to the pack, adjust to the conditions and decide when to conserve or attack. College athletes already have the fitness and competitive instincts. This festival gives them the setting to put all of those abilities together.”
The addition of college-focused racing also gives coaches a new developmental and promotional tool. Pool distance swimmers can use open water to sharpen tactical decision-making, develop confidence in unpredictable conditions and discover competitive strengths that may not be as visible inside a pool.
The other events at the festival include a one-mile splash plus one-mile dash. The swim and run biathlon event allows friends and others into the competitive flow of the festival too.
The East Coast Open Water Festival is part of ISCA’s broader commitment to creating innovative competitive opportunities for swimmers and coaches. The two-day festival is scheduled for September 26 and 27, 2026, at Smith Mountain Lake State Park.
College coaches, club coaches, athletes and teams should begin planning now and make individual or team reservations for the September event at https://swimisca.org/event/east-coast-open-water/.
About Rick Walker
Rick Walker coached at Southern Illinois University for 32 years and served as head coach of USA Swimming’s Open Water National Team for 13 years. He was the head Egyptian Olympic coach at the 2012 London Olympic Games and has coached Olympic, World Championship, NCAA and national championship swimmers. Walker currently serves as chair of the PanAm Aquatics Open Water Committee and chair of the World Aquatics Open Water Referee and Officials Committee.
About the International Swim Coaches Association
The International Swim Coaches Association is a nonprofit membership organization that educates and unites swim coaches through competitions, clinics, research, professional resources and online learning. ISCA hosts pool meets and open water festivals while creating new opportunities for coaches and swimmers throughout the sport.
Media Contact
International Swim Coaches Association 420 Church Ave. SW Roanoke, VA 24016 USA Office Phone: 540-792-2020 Email: Webmaster-Team@SwimISCA.com SwimISCA.org
