JagBytes

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Sports

Michael Phelps, winner of six Olympic golds in swimming, waits for his next competition at the Natatorium during the ConocoPhillips meet.

Named the 'Fastest pool in the USA,' the IU Natatorium at IUPUI contains three indoor pools, two of which are 50 meters long. Completed in the summer of 1982 for the cost of $21.5 million, the Natatorium has opened its doors to a variety of national and international championships.

Since opening, the "Nat" has hosted dozens of NCAA Championships in swimming, diving, and water polo, three US Opens, and 12 Olympic Trials and Olympic Qualifying competitions as well as several Junior & Senior National Swimming Championships. Seating is available for 4,700 spectators and 1,500 coaches and athletes.

With its unique gutter system and special lane markers, the main competition pool is considered one of the fastest in the world. The main competition pool is 50 meters in length with eight racing lanes. It can be divided by 2 bulkheads to change the length of the pool to facilitate different events.

The diving well holds approximately 500,000 gallons of water and is 55 feet wide and 18 feet deep. It is equipped with 1 meter and 3 meter springboards and a tower with 3, 5, 7 1/2, and 10 meter platforms. Overhead and underwater lighting is in excess of 100 foot candles during normal operations.

There are 6 separate locker rooms with more than1,400 available lockers.

The IU Natatorium boasts the nation's largest programmable aquatic sports alphanumeric scoreboard with Omega electronic timing and date running capabilities.

The warm-up pool is also used for instructional purposes. During times when competition is not being held, the IU Natatorium offers a full program of instructional and recreational activities for swimmers of all ages, abilities and interests.

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