The International Swimming League (ISL) is making a comeback after a five-year break with an All-Star Match scheduled for December 19 at the London Aquatics Centre. This event marks the league’s initial step towards its anticipated full relaunch.
Featuring some of the world’s top swimmers, the team-based competition will offer a substantial prize pool, with specific details to be revealed later. Previous ISL events have showcased renowned swimmers such as Caeleb Dressel from the United States, Adam Peaty from Britain, and Katinka Hosszu from Hungary.
The announcement solidifies the plans previously outlined by ISL Commissioner Ben Allen, who expressed the league’s ambition to resume activities in the autumn of 2026 with a revamped commercial strategy emphasizing diversified funding sources like sponsorships and media partnerships.
Established in 2019 to offer a professional swimming competition outside the Olympic calendar, the ISL last conducted a season in 2021. The league’s operations were suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced by its primary supporter, Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin, amid the conflict in Ukraine.
In a bid to make a comeback, the ISL had initially envisioned a seven-match season across North America and Europe, with potential events in Asia and the Middle East. The league also contemplated transitioning to a one-day competition format following previous multi-day events.
Earlier this year, the ISL committed to settling overdue prize money for approximately 300 athletes from the 2021 season. The announcement of the London event as an All-Star Match indicates a trial of this condensed approach before a broader relaunch.
ISL Commissioner Ben Allen expressed excitement about the upcoming event, highlighting it as a significant moment for the swimming community, bringing together top athletes on the ISL platform. London, renowned for its sports culture, was deemed the ideal host city with its state-of-the-art Aquatics Centre, a venue known for hosting major international swimming competitions.
Further details regarding participating swimmers, match format, ticketing information, and broadcast arrangements for the London event will be disclosed by the ISL in the coming days.