China Turned Michael Phelps? Favourite Swimming Pool Into an Ice Cube for Curling- Here?s How

Human ingenuity can do wonders and if you want a perfect example for that, see the National Aquatics Center in Beijing. If you told someone from a different planet that it was the same spot where the American legend Michael Phelps created history by winning 8 swimming gold medals, they might give you a look of bewilderment because the venue has changed completely.

Of course, the science behind converting water into ice is simple, but transforming a swimming pool into a professional ice curling rink, that’s called a remarkable innovation.

After 14 years, the National Aquatics Center will host a different sport altogether. The center has gone through many changes and the swimming venue has been transformed into a curling rink, though the diving platform from the 2008 Olympics is still there.

Water cube to ice cube

The engineers in China have done a wonderful job of converting the venue into a curling rink without losing the swimming pool. Above the pool, they’ve created a structure of around 2500 steel beams and some 1500 lightweight prefabricated concrete panels that will support the curling surface.

The Canadian curler John Morris, who would be competing in the mixed doubles with partner Rachel Homan, says, ?I didn?t really understand it too well until I walked in here and I saw that Beijing 2008 sign on the diving board. I was like, ?Oh, that?s pretty cool. I remember watching that on TV. It?s a wonderful complex.”

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Michael Phelps and the water cube

Everyone probably remembers the National Aquatic Center in Beijing because of Michael Phelps and what he achieved in the 2008 Olympics. The legend created history by winning 8 gold medals. One in every event that he took part in. He even set world records in men?s 100-meter butterfly by winning it in 50.58 seconds.

It’s the same venue where American curlers Chris Plys and Vicky Persinger would compete in the mixed doubles, against the Australian team. What Phelps achieved is rare. However, his legacy is quite an inspiration for both the curlers and they will look forward to making their country proud like him.

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Curling is a winter sport, and it was originally played on frozen lakes, but thanks to human ingenuity, the modern day curling is played on synthetic rinks within a controlled, confined space. The utilization of same venue for different sports is going to be the future and we’ll see a substantial increase in the number world facilities doing so.