Indianapolis to host US Olympic swimming trials again in 2028 after last year's record run
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The 2028 U.S. Olympic swimming trials will return to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium after drawing record-breaking crowds last year in the first event held inside a football stadium.
USA Swimming officials made the announcement Tuesday in Indianapolis where this year's national championships are being held this week. Dates for the event have not yet been announced.
Organizers intend to build three temporary pools on top of the NFL's Colts' home field — a 50-meter competition pool and two warm-up pools. The Indiana Convention Center, which is connected to the stadium, will host USA Swimming's Toyota Aqua Zone.
Last year, more than 285,000 fans attended the nine-day trials. That was a 60% increase over previous events. Single session records also were shattered as television ratings increased 20% from the previous team trials in 2021. Organizers estimated the event helped generate $132 million in revenue for the city.
The 2024 trials also won the annual Fan Engagement Award and were a finalist for Sports Business Journal's event of the year.
Indianapolis has a long and storied history with the Olympic swimming trials. The 2028 trials will mark the eighth time the city has hosted the event since 1924 when Johnny Weissmuller and Duke Kahanamoku were the stars.
Other familiar names who qualified for the U.S. Olympic teams include Amanda Beard, Janet Evans, Rowdy Gaines, Katie Ledecky, Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres.
The 2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles and could again feature the brother-sister duo of Alex and Aaron Shackell, who swam for nearby Carmel High School.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports in this topic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
22 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Hong Kong issues highest weather warning as Typhoon Wipha hits
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Photo highlights from the second week of the Tour de France
This photo gallery, curated by AP photo editors, features highlights from the second week of the Tour de France. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: Instagram: X: ___ AP sports:
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Amid economic crisis in South Sudan, artisans offer affordable footwear made from rubber tires
WAU, South Sudan — From Rwanda to Kenya, fashioning footwear from discarded tires has long been a mark of local ingenuity. In South Sudan, however, the creative work of such artisans is now fueled by an economic crisis that has left the government on the verge of bankruptcy and many people struggling to put food on the table. As South Sudan's oil revenues have dwindled, the government for months has been unable to pay civil servants on time. The cash crisis affects everyone from soldiers to teachers, underscoring the range of economic hardship across the country, and many are looking for ways to keep going. Some want cheap shoes, finding them not in supermarkets but in open markets where flip-flops and sandals are fashioned from worn-out tires usually thrown away as rubbish. In Wau, some 400 miles from the South Sudanese capital of Juba, shoemaker Emmanuel Achuil works under the shade of a tarpaulin in the town's bustling main market. His hands blackened from grappling with rubber, Achuil uses a blade to carve pieces from discarded tires. Colorful straps are scattered around him like pieces of a puzzle. Achuil, who makes five to 10 pairs a week, told the AP that in recent months he's seen a rise in demand that he and others say is directly related to the rising cost of living here. They say footwear made from scraps of rubber has found a firm place in local markets, confirmed in the ubiquitous displays of such shoes even in open markets in Juba. Two years ago, Achuil was getting five to seven customers a month. Now he expects as many as 20, he said. Achuil's shoes can fetch up to 15,000 South Sudanese pounds a pair, or roughly $4, depending on size and quality of finishing. In addition to their affordability, the rough-hewn pairs are praised for their durability. 'Even when things get bad — no food, no jobs — this work doesn't fail me,' Achuil said. 'People always need shoes, especially cheap ones.' Akol Majok Ring, a cattle keeper from the state of Warrap, said he discovered these sandals in March and immediately bought a pair for himself because 'they are good for cattle grazing.' 'When you're moving with the cattle all day, these sandals are perfect,' he said. 'They're durable and well-suited for the job.' The South Sudanese pound has been under pressure since 2023, losing much of its value against the dollar as oil exports are sporadically disrupted by civil war in neighboring Sudan. The economy has been in decline for five consecutive years, hampered by violence stemming mostly from the political contest between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar, who is currently under house arrest for alleged subversion. Hyperinflation and widespread food insecurity affect nearly 80% of South Sudan's 11 million people, the same number of people living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. South Sudan depends on oil revenue to meet 90% of the government's annual budget, but damage this year to the oil pipeline through Sudan left South Sudanese authorities briefly unable to export any crude. The government announced in June that exports were due to resume after repairs to the pipeline. Many government workers are effectively without pay, and unemployment is rampant as the prices of basic goods skyrocket. Leather shoes in the shops can seem a luxury in these circumstances. 'Tire soles last longer,' said Deng Akol Athuai, who has been buying from Achuil for years. 'I buy one pair, and it lasts me a year or more. They're strong, especially for walking on rough roads.' Gabriel Bataku, a 26-year-old in Wau who is unemployed, said shoemakers like Achuil 'are solving real problems. They just need recognition and support.' Achuil has been making shoes since 1996. He is not formally trained. He learn his skills as a grade-schooler watching shoemakers in their workshops. In those days, discarded tires were much easier to find, scavenged from garages or sourced through people throwing them away. But now, he said, 'more people are doing this work, so the competition for materials is high.' He lamented the lack of formal support, from the government and others, that has left artisans struggling to access the tools of their trade. He wants access to better equipment. Despite the difficulties, he dreams of opening a proper workshop where he would train others. He also hopes to be able to expand his business to other towns in South Sudan. 'If I had better cutting tools, and a way to expand, I could train young people,' he said. 'Many are idle here in Wau. This skill could help them survive.' Atit writes for the Associated Press.
