Olympic trials set to start this weekend at Lucas Oil Stadium

The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials kick off in Indianapolis this week.

More than 1,000 swimmers from across the country will compete for a spot on this year’s Olympic team during the nine days of trials.

The meet is being held inside the home of the Colts, at Lucas Oil Stadium. U.S.A. Swimming Chief Commercial Officer Shana Ferguson said that’s a first.

“The meet is simply too big for any existing swimming pool, natatorium facility,” Ferguson said. “So since 2004 we’ve had to build temporary pools, we’ve just never put temporary pools in a football stadium.”

Pools have been built in other sports facilities, but Lucas Oil will be able to hold a larger number of spectators — more than 30,000 — for the events.

A number of swimmers from Indiana will compete for a spot on the team. Ferguson said Hoosiers have stepped up to help host the trials in Indianapolis.

“There are hundreds, actually thousands of people who have volunteered countless hours to help us produce this event. We couldn’t do this at U.S.A. Swimming by ourselves,” Ferguson said.

Three pools were constructed for the Olympic trials, including the competition pool and two warm-up pools. The water was piped in from the White River and will be pumped back after the events are over.

52 swimmers will be named to the team headed to Paris.

Indianapolis has held the trials before, at the IU Natatorium. The city also hosted trials 100 years ago in Broad Ripple Park for the 1924 Olympics, which was also in Paris.