The University of Wisconsin has its brand new aquatic center on display this week in its first-ever opportunity to host the Big Ten Championships.
Opened amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Soderholm Aquatic Center is part of the school’s new $96 million student rec center, with early estimates on the pool project at around $24 million as a standalone pricetag.
Featuring a 50-meter pool and a separate diving well with a full complement of platforms, the pool can seat up to 1,200 spectators off-deck.
SwimSwam’s Andrew Mering took a few minutes before the start of the meet to talk with Wisconsin head coach Yuri Suguiyama about what the pool means to his program, at one point saying he had a conversation with the administration last year that without the new pool, Wisconsin couldn’t put a swimmer on the US Olympic Team.
Wisconsin’s Phobe Bacon qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, finishing 5th in the 200 meter backstroke.
Watch the full walkthrough below:
Clone of Purdue. He said building the pool shows commitment of athletic department. Just like Iowa.