World Aquatics (formerly known as Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA)), is pleased to announce that it has reached a settlement with the class of swimmers to resolve claims in the case of Shields et al. v. Fédération Internationale de Natation, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Through this settlement, World Aquatics is setting up a fund of $4.6 million that will be distributed to swimmers who signed contracts to compete at the International Swimming League (ISL) event in Turin in 2018 and in the 2019 ISL season.
The settlement fund will ensure swimmers are more than fully compensated following the 2018 and 2019 ISL seasons. World Aquatics’ President, Husain Al Musallam, said that he was delighted that a resolution had been reached that brings to a close years of litigation, but more importantly, will significantly benefit the sport’s athletes. “This lawsuit dates back to the previous management of FINA, and, regrettably, it has dragged on for so many years. However, I am pleased that we are finally able to step in and provide this significant sum of money for the swimmers, many of whom were badly let down.
I do not believe that it would have been fair for our athletes to continue to suffer financially, and this settlement ensures that the swimmers are fully compensated and reflects World Aquatics’ continuing commitment to the development of the sport of swimming and support for swimming athletes around the world.” World Aquatics looks forward to the court’s approval of the settlement. Only the lawsuit filed by the ISL against FINA remains pending. World Aquatics paid out USD 7.1 million in prize money to swimmers in 2024, while aquatics athletes collectively earned USD 11.1 million at World Aquatics events that year—the highest figures in the organisation’s 116-year history.
