Tagged: swimming

When USA Swimming considers site possibilities for the 2016 U.S. Olympic swim trials, it isn’t driven by attendance figures alone—and Omaha isn’t a lock to host for a third time.  

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus says officials representing several different cities have already expressed interest in hosting the 2016 trials. Some have even shown up to check it out. Wielgus says he hopes Omaha is in the bidding, because any other city that competes for the trials in ’16 will have high standards to match.

Michael Phelps won a race Thursday night, which is not unusual.  But it was without a head-to-head battle with Ryan Lochte, which has become the Battle of the Titans this week at the Olympic swimming trials at CenturyLink Center. As Omaha Public Radio’s Greg Echlin reports, Phelps showed Thursday he’s human.

The U.S. Olympic Swim Trials return to Omaha in late June.

Omaha hosted the Swim Trials in 2008. It’s the biggest competition before the Olympics, which are in London this year. Frank Busch, national team director for USA Swimming, says so far this year 1,600 athletes have met qualifying standards. 1,100 athletes came to Omaha in 2008 for the Trials.

Busch says Omaha was a perfect location in 2008 for the Swim Trials. The CenturyLink Center arena and convention halls were converted to accommodate the Swim Trials, complete with practice pools.