The Indianapolis Natatorium has been a beloved hosting center for swimming and diving meets since the 1980s. The names of swimmers who qualified for the Olympics in races there are painted on the walls on either side of the diving platforms.

It hosted the NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships last week, just the latest example of the world of swimming and diving taking over the city.

Indy hosted the 2024 Swimming Olympic Trials and sent nine athletes to represent the United States and nine to represent other countries in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Two of these swimmers attended the University of Indianapolis, proving just how fast even Division II swimming has gotten in Indiana.

On the Indianapolis Natatorium’s pool deck last week, Cassie Langdon, assistant director of media coordination and statistics for NCAA, spoke about the prospect of Indianapolis becoming even more of  a hotspot for major swimming and diving events.

“I think people from all over the country would agree that Indianapolis just hosts in such a special way, and so it’s just really cool to see a sport like swimming and diving that you don’t necessarily associate with the Midwest, but just be a great place for everyone to come together and compete,” said Langdon.

While swimming and diving competitively can be a tough gig with a lot of “no-nonsense” athletes when they are in the zone, every now and then you stumble upon the small moments of fun and excitement and an athlete truly living in the moment. Swimmers on deck could be seen studying, listening to music, laughing with friends and waving their hellos to mothers and family members in the stands or on the other side of the cameras.

“Name another city that could put a swimming pool in a football field and then be able to have an event like that, said Ethan Polak, media coordination and stats intern for NCAA Championships and Alliances. “There is no other city that can do that, so being able to help build the U.S. swim trials and having this event, I think, is not only going to help impact just the sport itself, but even the communities here.”

While this pool may not be in a football field, the Indianapolis Natatorium remains one of the most renowned pools in the United States with plenty of history. The 1984 Olympic trials were the first the IU Natatorium had the opportunity to host after its completed construction in 1982.

Rowdy Gaines qualified and made his Olympic debut there in 1984 as well as Michael Phelps in 2000.

Fifty-eight teams represented their colleges and universities at the NCAA championships, coming from all over the United States, including one from Indianapolis. The University of Indianapolis Greyhounds remain the only Division II school in Indiana, and their swimming and diving teams have made quite a name for themselves. Both men’s and women’s teams were ranked third going into nationals. The men finished in fifth place with 290 points and the women in fourth with 346 points.

Indianapolis will next host the Speedo Sectionals March 27-30, then the National Championships June 3-7.

As the banner hanging from the 10-meter platform at the Nat says, “All Great Racers Come to Indy.”

Jyllian Antle is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.