\u201cIt\u2019s in our DNA. We\u2019re proud of our swim team and that includes our open-water swimming team.\u201d<\/p>\n
The International Olympic Committee plans to reduce the Brisbane program from the record number of 36 sports on the 2028 Los Angeles roster.<\/p>\n
Johnson, an Olympic silver medallist, and her Dolphins teammate Nick Sloman are among the global open water community rallying to protect the sport\u2019s Olympic status.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gut-wrenching,\u201d Sloman told AAP.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully we can change the perspective of not only the world but a lot of Australians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson won her Olympic silver medal in a 10km race in the iconic Seine River in Paris.<\/p>\n
![\"Open-water](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/aa0a095fa09ff90eb962b3ff2d3cb9095fb36c22.jpg\")
Open-water swimmer Moesha Johnson is worried the event could be scrapped at the Brisbane Olympics. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n
The reigning world champion over 5km and 10km also completed an unheralded sweep at World Cup events this year by winning every race.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a shock that open water swimming was even on the cutting block for the Olympics,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpen water swimming is the original form of swimming at the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the most traditional and rawest form of swimming, it\u2019s very accessible all over the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Brisbane, we are almost fighting over where open water should go because we have so many beautiful venues to show off to the world and that\u2019s something that is really important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson said the issue ran deeper than just the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can fight for open water at the Olympics, it\u2019s creating something for future generations to look forward to in the sport of high performance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut also in communities, it\u2019s a mental health thing for young people as well, so it\u2019s bigger than just performance at the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have also been talking to my competitors and they have started speaking out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have even been in contact with AOC (Australian Olympic Committee) and World Aquatics and getting everyone on board.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone isn\u2019t just fighting for a sport on the Olympic program, but believes in our sport and our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s head open water swim coach Fernando Possenti said the sport was \u201crunning out of time\u201d to guarantee its Olympic future.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom what I know, the venues and all the sports should be published at the end of this year for Brisbane \u201832 … so probably a decision will be made in a couple of months,\u201d he told AAP.<\/p>\n
IOC president Kirsty Coventry has flagged \u201cdifficult decisions\u201d to reduce the number of the sports from the LA Games to Brisbane.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe size will change. We don\u2019t expect to see 36 sports,\u201d she said in May.<\/p>\n