Team USA Olympic Trials Pool Built Over NFL Stadium Excites Swimming Community: “Holy Smokes”

Months before Team USA makes swimming history at the Paris La Défense Arena, a thrilling showdown at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will determine the athletes worthy of representing the country. With iconic names like Katie Ledecky, Leah Smith, Alex Walsh, Nic Fink, Kate Douglass, Claire Curzan, and countless others, the field of contenders lining up among America’s favorites is already enthralling.

The Olympic trials stadium has a fascinating bit of history to it though, one of crossporting legends. Adding to the excitement, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials will take place in an NFL stadium for the first time, with three temporary pools constructed for the competition. This groundbreaking event will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, from June 15–23, 2024, marking a historic first for the stadium’s football field. A sneak peek by a swimming veteran has sent the community into a frenzy, with construction underway. How much of this painstaking task will lead to Paris champions is still a doubtful tale though.

Swimming Olympic champion shares a sneak peek of the USA Olympic Trials Pool

In a post on X, three-time Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member Rowdy Gaines shared an exciting update from inside Lucas Oil Stadium. The legend posted two images with the caption, “Get set for history…in a football stadium!” The first image, taken from the stadium stands, showed a massive pool under construction at the center of the field, with the foundation and construction in full swing. Nearby, two massive tank-like structures stood out.

Above the pool, a jumbotron displayed a countdown: “US Olympic Team Trials-Swimming with 31 Days 06 Hours 33 Minutes and 12 Seconds” remaining. In the second image, Rowdy Gaines stood inside the pool area, which was being laid with woodwork, smiling from ear to ear and giving a thumbs-up. Construction kicked off on Sunday, and Myrtha Pools has just about a month to get the temporary pools ready before the event starts on June 15. As Rowdy Gaines’ post went viral, swimming fans could barely contain their excitement and awe.

Rowdy Gaines’ post ignites a fan frenzy online

Fans on X flooded the comment section under the post by NBC swimming analyst and Olympic champion Rowdy Gaines, expressing amazement at the preparations for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. One fan tagged a friend, asking, “How, exactly, do they build an LCM pool in a football stadium and put enough water to fill it? @kylesockwell.” The answer? After constructing the pools and pool decks, firetrucks will pump over 860,000 gallons of water into the three pools. To accommodate the three 3-meter pools, some seats in Lucas Oil Stadium will also be removed. The main competition pool, 10 lanes wide, will be set up on the south side of the stadium, while the two warmup pools will be positioned on the other half, concealed behind a canvas.

Another fan, awestruck by the historic moment, asked, “Are they installing a pool there? Holy smokes – is that a first?” One enthusiastic fan remarked, “It’s going to be awesome!” Another chimed in, “Myrtha Pools on this one too 💪🏽💪🏽.” Myrtha Pools, an Italian company with U.S. headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, has supplied pools for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, for four consecutive events, including June 2021, and is also behind the pools being built at Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. As we reflect on the excitement and with nearly a month left to go, what are your thoughts on the sneak peek? Which swimming champions are you rooting for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!