The 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials competition swimming pool created by Myrtha Pools USA will have a very useful permanent home in north Minneapolis.
V3 Sports, a philanthropic organization dedicated to providing triathlon and aquatics training to underprivileged athletes, has reached an agreement to purchase the Counsilman/Hunsacker-designed Myrtha pool.
Myrtha, through a partnership with USA Swimming, has supplied both the competition and warm-up pools for the U.S. Olympic Trials each year since 2004.
The 2020 competition pool will be the centerpiece of next summer’s Trials, which run June 21-28 at the 18,000-seat CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. After the Trials are completed, V3 will have the pool moved to Minnesota and permanently installed at its V3 Complex.
For V3 founder Erika Binger, the acquisition marks a key point in her organization’s development.
“We are proud to bring this prestigious pool, where incredible dreams have become reality, to north Minneapolis,” Binger said. “Our goal is to provide underrepresented neighborhoods with access to a world-class facility. So many of our youth and families do not have the opportunity to learn to swim, and we feel fortunate to bring the Myrtha Olympic Trials pool to our deserving community.
“Hopefully the next Olympian will come from north Minneapolis. Regardless, we truly feel blessed to be part of this new chapter in USA swimming.”
The warm-up pool for the 2020 Trials has been purchased in advance by the Trials Joint Venture, which will find it an eventual home.
With commitments in place for both Trials pools, Mike Mintenko, national sales director for Myrtha Pools USA, is planning to offer reduced pricing on competition pools through 2020 in conjunction with the Olympic year.
At least two basic competitive pool layouts – 25 yards by 50 meters, and 25 meters by 25 yards – will be available at a significant price reduction until June 21, 2020.
“Myrtha Pools is extremely excited to once again be associated with USA Swimming in Omaha 2020,” Mintenko said. “The Trials event in Omaha has become one of the best swimming experiences in the world for its athletes and fans attending, and we couldn’t be more proud to be working with Erika and her team at V3 to transfer the legacy of the event to north Minneapolis for generations to come.”
Myrtha remains the international leader in competition pools and supplied both permanent and temporary aquatics vessels for the recently concluded FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, where 10 swimming world records were set.
2016 US Olympic Trials venue, courtesy of Tim Binning, theswimpictures.com
Courtesy: Myrtha Pools USA, a SwimSwam partner.