Diving Platform at Liberty University Collapses; No Injuries Reported

A 1-meter diving platform at Liberty University’s natatorium collapsed on Wednesday. A university spokesperson says that no injuries were reported.

The $20 million, 75,000 square foot natatorium was opened during the 2017-2018 season, and has been plagued by issues since – mostly relating to the timing system.

The school says they are working with Glass & Associates, the local contractor that built the pool, to determine exactly what happened.

The school’s diving platforms feature a full complement of diving apparatus, including 1-meter, 3-meter, 5-meter, 7.5 meter, and 10-meter platforms, plus 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. The university says that more information will be released at a later date.

A 1-meter diving platform is not used in competition, but is used primarily as a training platform.

The facility hosted the 2019 CCSA Conference Championship meet, where they won the women’s title. That meet was delayed several times due to issues with the timing system. Liberty defended that title in 2020 in Knoxville.

Tori Lamp Wood, an SEC Champion and former USA National Team member, was named the school’s first full-time diving coach before the 2017-2018 season. She left the program after last season and no replacement has been announced yet.

The Liberty Natatorium features a 9-lane, 50-meter pool with movable bulkhead and a separate 17-foot deep diving well. The entire facility is 75,000 square feet and has a seating capacity of 1,414 with seating on 3 sides – a unique feature in modern natatorium design.

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Guerra
3 years ago

It should be rebuilt in three days…

Doconc
3 years ago

Shocking amount of anti religious comments here for a structural problem

If this were a ceiling at a mosque or synagogue would there be crappy comments too?

Qqq
Reply to  Doconc
3 years ago

I don’t think they’re anti-religious, they’re anti-Falwell. Sounds like a real nice guy: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/09/jerry-falwell-allegations-liberty-university-self-dealing.html

Qqq
Reply to  Qqq
3 years ago

And wonder if the self-dealing included pool construction…

Coachy
Reply to  Qqq
3 years ago

Wow. An article from Slate referencing an article from Politico. Why not just call Chuck Schumer for his thoughts as well?

Rookie
Reply to  Doconc
3 years ago

Perhaps we should be thankful no one was hurt or killed.

Justin Thompson
Reply to  Rookie
3 years ago

What do you have against liberty? Did you swim against them during your college career?

Tswim
Reply to  Justin Thompson
3 years ago

1. They reopened prematurely after spring break during a pandemic and students got sick.

2. They are openly discriminatory against LGBT students but I’m curious how that will change in light of the supreme court’s new rulings.

3. The Falwells are highly political and basically business people despite running institutions that aren’t taxed.

4. The Family and university loveeee our racist and ignorant president and had him speak on multiple occasions. Several administrators at the university have also done dirty work for Trump campaigns.

5. Honestly, it’s a rip off. It gives students, many who are first-gen college students, a sub-par education including tons of online classes even when you’re a full-time, on-campus student and huge class… Read more »

ACC fan
Reply to  Tswim
3 years ago

TSWIM, looks like you take CNN news as real news. I come to SwimSwam to get away from politics. Stop pushing your agenda.

Did not swim against Liberty
Reply to  Justin Thompson
3 years ago

Many Americans aren’t fans of educational institutions rooted in the philosophy of the Falwells. Timing systems fail, swimswam makes fun of Liberty. Brand new construction fails, swimswam makes fun of Liberty.

As Falwell Sr blamed God’s wrath for 9/11 (in the immediate aftermath) as a result of abortionists and gays, among others (pagans and feminists if I remember correctly), I think your path is clear. God is punishing Liberty’s swim and dive program and you need to get your head out of the swimswam boards and start rooting out the devil in your own midst.

Or Junior’s alleged self-dealing of construction contracts is why every diver to stand on one of those platforms will have a moment of “what if”.

Justin Thompson
Reply to  Justin Thompson
3 years ago

Ok, I got it. Vicious group on the swimswam 🥺
I’m not anti religion, but I’ve always been a bit skeptical of the big time evangelists who take in millions. Always felt that nobody should become etremely wealthy on religion like nobody should become rich on a non-profit foundation.

swimgeek
3 years ago

BTW – maybe add “1-meter” to the headline — b/c I think we were all envisioning the 10-meter!

Beverly Drangus
3 years ago

Jerry Jr has always had unusual hiring criteria for pool boys. Too soon to tell if it’s related, but if it is, count on Jerry to personally dole out some punishment to the bad boy who’s responsible.

Irish Ringer
3 years ago

Will be interested to see what went wrong there. A newer facility like that shouldn’t of had to worry about structural issues for years.

swimgeek
3 years ago

Ooph. Was it built by Daktronics?!

Bossanova
3 years ago

Maybe Falwell’s pool boy is getting his revenge!

Virginia Gators Swimmer
3 years ago

The Liberty University Natatorium facility is abolutely amazing (I have attended more than one swim meet there); so sorry to see that they are having so much trouble. 🙁

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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