Centro de Natación Mundial 86, a premier competition pool in Madrid that was once the world’s largest aquatic center, will begin a €12 million ($12.3 million USD) renovation project this year.
The pool, which received 840,000 visitors in 2024, will undergo interior changes in the first of a two-phase renovation project at the end of 2025. Changes include renovation to the electricity and air conditioning system and a “modernization” of the pool itself. In 2026 and 2027, the second phase will focus on the building’s exterior and office space.
Madrid’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports will fund the project.
“[The pool] will be a completely renovated infrastructure and prepared to host national and international competitions, thus strengthening swimming in Madrid,” said the Ministry’s head, Mariano de Parco Serrano (translated from Spanish).
Centro de Natación Mundial 86, also known as M86, got its name by being the host pool of the 1986 World Championships. At over 23,000 square meters, it was at the time the world’s largest aquatic center (it is now over 30,000). It remains a premier venue for Spanish swimming, most recently hosting the 2024 Spanish Short Course National Championships.
There is not yet information available on how the renovation will affect the pool’s space or operating hours. The pool’s website can be found here.
Hopefully this can see Spanish swimming move up a few levels. Spain has always seemed an anomaly in world swimming. Other European countries of similar size (Italy, GB, France) have always outperformed them considerably and even smaller nations have (Dutch, Nordics). Their depth has always been totally lacking with little or no relay impact on the world stage. Beyond the exceptional Belmonte I cannot think of any other ‘homegrown’ Spanish swimmer who has medalled at an Olympics.
Swimming is a tough sport for little financial gain(relative to other sports)… Spain has had lots of success and more $$$ in futbol , tennis, golf and in aquatics, water polo.
I am one of those. Born and raise in Spain. Came to USA in September of 1987 but had to train by myself until I got to school in January og 1988. Trained with the team 3-4 months and went back to Spain to prepare the 88 Olympics were I got 3rd. I was not a product of USA.
Felicidades por tu exito Sergio – disculpame! I think the general point still holds though re: Spanish success in the pool over time. I’m not convinced by competition from other sports – France, Italy and England are all football mad too. And any chance of ever making a decent living from either tennis or football is minuscule even if you are lucky enough to be born in Madrid or Majorca. Even being privileged enough to be at a tennis academy from 4 years of age or having an uncle willing to sacrifice his life for your sporting success (a la Nadal) doesn’t guarantee anything. Perhaps the 100s of miles of golden sand make the thought of swimming up and down… Read more »
No te preocupes Rob y gracias.