A skins race is an elimination-style sprint event. Typically raced over 50 metres, swimmers compete in a series of rounds, with the slowest swimmer (or swimmers) eliminated after each one. Rounds are fired off at short, set intervals, meaning athletes must not only sprint but also recover and reset quickly. The rounds continue until just two swimmers remain to battle it out in the final sprint. It’s an unforgiving format that tests resilience, consistency, and composure under pressure.
In a sport where fractions of a second count, the skins format pushes athletes in a completely different way. It rewards speed, but it also highlights mental toughness and physical recovery. For spectators, it creates an atmosphere of rising tension and celebration with each successive round.
The format is simple but innovative. Each round matters. Each finish counts. Athletes have to judge how much effort to invest early on, how to manage their recovery, and when to unleash their top-end speed. It makes for incredible viewing - and just as importantly, for incredible racing.
From national experiment to international feature
The skins format had its breakthrough moment in 1996 with the Qantas Skins event in Sydney. The event quickly gained traction for its unique structure and entertainment value. Over the years, it drew high-profile competitors from across the globe, including Ian Thorpe, Michael Klim, Geoff Huegill, Pieter van den Hoogenband, and Michael Phelps. It offered something that traditional racing didn’t: a high-pressure, round-by-round challenge that tested more than just raw speed.
Following its Australian debut, the skins format began to appear in other swimming nations. In the UK, it became a regular feature at club and county-level meets. Swim England later introduced formal guidelines for running skins races, helping to standardise the format and encourage its use.
In 2019, the concept gained global visibility when the International Swimming League (ISL) incorporated skins events into its professional meet program. Each ISL event ended with a skins race - a three-round sprint showdown featuring eight swimmers and very little rest. These skins races were one of the league’s signature events, bringing the format to new audiences and reinforcing its value as both a competition and a show.
What makes it different
Skins races are different from traditional events in more than just format. They offer swimmers an opportunity to race in a pressure-cooker environment. Recovery becomes just as important as speed. Strategy - uch as how hard to go in early rounds, or how to manage fatigue - lays a big role.
For the crowd, it’s a natural spectacle. There’s no waiting for a final. The final is built into the format, with tension and excitement building across each round. You can feel the stakes rising as the field gets smaller and the rest intervals shrink.
How it's delivered in South Australia
Before a skins event begins, organisers determine the number of rounds, how many swimmers will start, and how many will be eliminated each round. The structure is often shaped by the number of available lanes at the venue. Most commonly, events involve three to five rounds, with the field reducing each time until just two or three swimmers race in the final.
Official race results are typically used to determine placings, and the slowest swimmers are eliminated after each round. In the event of a tie or technical issue, organisers may choose to allow additional swimmers to proceed to the next round and adjust the eliminations accordingly.
Short rest intervals between rounds make recovery and strategy key elements of the race. Some swimmers hold back early, while others go out hard and try to dominate from the outset. Regular start protocols apply, and swimmers can be disqualified for false starts or delays.
Why it matters to us
At SwimmingSA, we continue to explore and support race formats that engage swimmers and spectators alike. Skins events bring something different to the program. They encourage tactical racing, celebrate speed under fatigue, and showcase swimmers in a more dynamic way. They also make for great event finals, with swimmers stepping up for their clubs in a format that’s as much about heart as it is about performance.
Whether you’re racing in one or cheering from the stands, the excitement of a skins race is hard to beat. It’s fast, loud, and electric. It’s about the challenge, the reward, and staying in the game, round after round.
Every round is its own opportunity. Survive, and you race again. Win, and you have the bragging rights.
