Behind The Scenes At The Olympic Swim Trials
Plenty of activity in and out of the pool
10:59 PM Jun 29, 2008
While all eyes will be on the pool during the Olympic Swim Trials at Qwest Center Omaha, there's plenty going on unseen and behind the scenes. "Only specific people can be in the venue. In this particular area it's restricted in the blue to only athletes, coaches and support staff," says Harold Cliff with U.S. Swim Trials.
A long blue carpet leads the way with signs of patriotism radiating from the walls. For the swimmers, they hope this path leads to Beijing. "So we really want to just put an emphasis on the fact where we are and give them a good feeling to get started," says Cliff. Every dressing room is utilized, every advantage provided. "It's basically an area where they can mentally prepare themselves to get ready to come up onto the pool deck." And once the athletes take their walk, they'll find themselves at the warm-up pool, a chance for athletes to prep and cool down, not to mention live streaming video to keep track of race results. "This is probably the largest indoor facility that anyone's built in North America because most people in the largest pool you'll build is a 50 meter by 25-yard pool and occasionally you'll have some extra water to used for recreational or something, but never this sort of training space," says Trevor Tiffany of Myrtha Pools USA.
Below are the amenities with 600 meals served each session, 60,000 bottles of water consumed, hot tub, big screen TV, even a free massage. The best in care for America's best and the best instruction technology can offer. "They'll measure the first five meters and then the next 10 meters of the race and then of course the regular splits of 25/50," says Tiffany. Finally it's time to take the stage. "This is the first impression of the athlete coming onto the pool deck. It's the environment that makes the pool, so we have a perfect environment."
"There'll be a lot of emotion on this particular podium, this is where they've made the team and our
job is done setting the stage for them to perform," says Cliff.After the trials, the pools will be shipped to a swim club in Virginia that’s purchased them.
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