Tuesday night was a historic night for the City of Fort Lauderdale. City commissioners voted to approve a $27 million renovation to the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex, most commonly known as the International Swimming Hall of Fame pool.
The aging pool has been in desperate need of a makeover the last decade and it will finally become a reality. The pool has been home to many big meets including the 1991 and 2002 US Summer Nationals, where swimming legends Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin set world records.
The pool also hosted the YMCA National Championships for years and years and the news of the renovation might bring the meet back to Fort Lauderdale soon.
The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex recently hosted the USA Diving Zone B meet and International Swimming Hall of Fame historian Bruce Wigo talked with three diving legends about what it would mean to aquatic sports to bring the complex back to its glory days.
Swimming World caught up with swimmers and coaches from the Swim Fort Lauderdale club on Tuesday night after the decision was made. You can view below what each of them had to say.
I am sooo delighted to know that (Finally) the International Swimming Hall of Fame will be renovated and up-graded hopefully to a level again of a first class competitive center. As a life time ( age 81) competitive swimmer ( high school and college in Detroit) and as a very long time Gold Coast Master Swimmer that has been using that pool even when The Casino Pool (50 meters, salt water) was in front where the A1A parking lot is, I just love the area. David McIntyre