FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Several swimmers from Fort Wayne will be taking advantage of the world-class Mirta Pool for the first time. The 2024 Olympic Swimming Qualifiers will be held June 7 and 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Fort Wayne will be competing with 32 swimmers. All swimmers are members of the Fort Wayne Swim Team or Summit City Aquatics. The Swim Trials is a two-day event with many courses for swimmers to gain experience. There will be 400 swimmers participating on the day, competing against other swimmers.
The meet will give athletes another chance to qualify for the Olympic Trials, which will be held June 15-23.
Mirta has been responsible for competition pools around the world, including the pool at the Paris Olympics. The company built the pool at Conseco Fieldhouse for the World Short Course Championships in 2004.
The list of swimmers competing from Fort Wayne is as follows:
- Naomi Bowland – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Autumn Bruns – Rhodes University/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Addie Barrow – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Evan Busson – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Carson Collier – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Mason Crews – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Owen Danckert – Cornell University/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Kate Fetter – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Annabelle Franke – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Jordyn Grassley – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Lily Hein – Homestead High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Lexi Jankowski – Findlay/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Ryan Neller – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Sadie Leininger – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- McCartney Mahler – Homestead High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Natalie Marshall – Ball State University/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Nate Marshall – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Jackson Morris – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Peyton O’Connor – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Ella Sears – Angola High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Josie Trent – Maple Creek MS / Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Maris Williams – Carroll High School/Fort Wayne Swim Team
- Josiah Collins – Woodside MS / Summit City Aquatics
- Grant Hibiske – Homestead High School/Summit City Aquatics
- Owen Lindsay – Homestead High School / Summit City Aquatics
- Everett Loney – Homestead High School / Summit City Aquatics
- Ben Lopez – Homestead High School / Summit City Aquatics
- Daniel Lopez – Homestead High School / Summit City Aquatics
- Hayden Lynam – Homestead High School / Summit City Aquatics
- Ripley Merritt – Homestead High School / Summit City Aquatics
- Jackson Pyle – Homestead High School/Summit City Aquatics
Following the trial run, the Olympic-sized pool was purchased by Fort Wayne Swim & Wellness (FWSW). The pool will be drained, disassembled and shipped to Fort Wayne at the end of June. FWSW will store the pool until a location in Northeast Indiana can be finalized.
FWSW aims to have a major impact on the community and its recreational opportunities, and plans include the Myrta Pool and a smaller heated zero entry pool.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these swimmers as they will be the first to dip their toes in the waters where Olympians compete for a spot in Paris. This is one of the fastest pools in North America and represents not only their potential, but the potential of the entire Fort Wayne community.”
John Gibson, President of Fort Wayne Swim & Wellness (FWSW)
