What Do the Colors Mean on Swim Standards? (Ribbon vs. FINA Themes Explained)

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Swim Standards uses two distinct color systems across its platform – each designed for a different purpose:

• Ribbon Colors — for rankings and placements
• Heatmap Colors — for FINA (World Aquatics) performance points

These color systems serve different goals, but both make results easier to read and understand at a glance.

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🏅 1️⃣ Ribbon Colors — For Rankings & Placement

This theme is inspired by swimming award ribbons and meet podium colors, used wherever Swim Standards displays rankings, places, or score positions (e.g., “Top 8”).

Place	Color	Meaning
1st	Blue	Traditional first-place ribbon
2nd	Red	Second-place
3rd	White	Third-place (used in many LSC award sets)
4th	Yellow	Excellent performance
5th	Black	High-level finalist
6th	Green	Solid achievement
7th	Purple	Finalist / emerging
8th	Brown	Participation / completion
9th+	Gray	Outside award range

🧩 These colors appear in Rankings, Leaderboards, and Meet Results “Top 8” views, matching what swimmers often see on award ribbons at meets.

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🔥 2️⃣ Heatmap Colors — For FINA Point Analysis

When analyzing swim quality (FINA or World Aquatics Points), Swim Standards uses a heatmap-based scale that reflects performance level — from developing to record-breaking.

FINA Points Range	Color	Meaning
1000+	⚫ Black	Record-level or world-record equivalent
900–999	🔴 Red	World-class performance
800–899	🔵 Blue	National elite
600–799	🟡 Yellow	Regional / advanced age-group
400–599	🟢 Green	Developing swimmer
Below 400	🟤 Brown	Entry-level / early progress

🌡️ This palette behaves like a “heatmap” — darker colors represent stronger, higher-level performances.

🧮 Reality Check: FINA vs USA Motivational Standards

Group	Example	Approx. FINA Range	Notes
World-class	Top international swimmers	900 – 999 +	Equivalent to elite senior-level times (e.g., national team / international medalists).
National Elite	USA National or Junior National qualifiers	800 – 899	Roughly corresponds to AAAA for older teens (15–18), but for younger ages (13–14), AAAA is often only 650 – 750 FINA.
Regional / Age-Group Advanced	LSC Champs / Zone swimmers	600 – 799	Typical A–AAAA range for ages 11–14.
Developing	Club or B/BB level	400 – 599	Meets local meet standards (BB–A).
Entry-level	New / early progress swimmers	< 400	Below B level.

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⚠️ Why AAAA ≈ 800 Isn’t Always True

FINA Points are age-neutral and event-based, while Motivational Standards are age-relative.
That means:

• A 16-year-old AAAA 100 Free might be ~810 FINA
• A 13-year-old AAAA 100 Free might be ~700 FINA