For the swimming competitions at the 2020 Summer Olympics, the following qualification systems are in place.
[2] Because of the exceptional circumstances related to COVID-19 crisis, the consequent Olympic delay, and the unprecedented two-year gap between the Worlds and the new date of the Games, FINA revised the universality rule that allowed a nation to enter the highest-ranked male and female swimmer, respectively, based upon the Points Table (2021 edition).
[2][3] Swimmers from NOCs, having achieved the OST allocated to the universality place, may be entered to a maximum of two individual events, whereas those without the OQT and OST were limited to enter in one individual event only.
Additionally, OST places will be distributed by event according to the position of the FINA World Rankings during the qualifying deadline.
[2] The initial FINA qualifying standards, still to be ratified, are as follows:[4][2] Those who have achieved the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) or the Olympic Selection Time (OST), or have been guaranteed a Universality place are listed below for each of the following individual events.