By Annie Grevers, Swimming World Magazine Staff Writer
USA Swimming announced today that the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team will kickoff training camp in San Antonio, Texas at the picturesque Northside Swim Center, site of the 2015 USA Swimming Phillips 66 National Championships.
“The Northside Swim Center is one of the top swimming facilities in the United States and will provide an excellent training environment as our athletes prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games,” USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch said.
San Antonio is three hours behind Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the world clock. The domestic and international training camps are purposed to give the athletes time to train in a controlled environment, with premium nutrition and time devoted to forging a strong team bond prior to competition on the world stage.
“This is where the camaraderie of our team begins to take shape, and the staff and facility here will play a key role in setting up Team USA for success in Rio,” Busch said.
Local fans and swimmers will have a chance to meet the freshly-minted Olympians, as one practice will be open to the public and will be followed up by an autograph session.
Opened in July 2013, the Northside Swim Center features a 50-meter, Olympic-size outdoor pool and 25-meter diving and warm-up pool. The outdoor swim center features shaded seating for 2,400 spectators, as well as high-tech timing, lighting, sound and video scoreboard systems. Locker room space allows for as many as 1,200 athletes.
2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Schedule:
• June 26-July 3, 2016: U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, Omaha, Nebraska
• July 13-21, 2016: Domestic Training Camp, San Antonio, Texas
• Dates TBD: International Training Camp, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Aug. 6-13, 2016: 2016 Olympic Games Pool Competition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Aug. 15-16, 2016: 2016 Olympic Games Open Water Competition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil