FINA postpones 2021 swimming worlds

The 2021 aquatics world championships in Japan, will now be held from May 13-29, 2022, the sport's governing body FINA said in a statement on Monday.

The decision follows the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"After liaising with the relevant stakeholders and receiving feedback from them, we have no doubt that the decision taken will provide the best possible conditions for all participants at the championships," said FINA president Julio Maglione.

"At a time of unprecedented uncertainty, FINA hopes the announcement of these dates will allow for some clarity in planning for all concerned."

The championships had been initially scheduled for next year from July 16-21 in Fukuoka.

The championships incorporate swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming and water polo.

Australia had claimed seven gold medals from the 2019 world championships and finished as the fourth-best placed nation across all events and second in the swimming pool.