Nearly 300,000 fans “turned out” for the event, with two sessions “drawing crowds of more than 20,000"Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Setting up a temporary pool inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, which ended yesterday, “took the event to a whole new level,” according to Paul Newberry of the AP. Nearly 300,000 fans “turned out” for the event, with two sessions “drawing crowds of more than 20,000.” The set-up “drew rave reviews from the athletes.” Swimmer Katie Ledecky said, “It’s been awesome. I think it blew away all of our expectations” (
AP, 6/24).
ELECTRIC FEEL: SWIMSWAM.com’s Olivier Poirier-Leroy writes the atmosphere in Indianapolis was “electric.” Sessions “regularly had over 20,000 spectators in attendance” in a stadium typically used for NFL games. There were “massive scoreboards, lots of media, loud music and boisterous cheering.” Even for Olympic veterans, who have “competed and dominated at the highest levels and on the biggest stages,” the atmosphere in Lucas Oil Stadium was “on a whole new level.” Ledecky said, “I haven’t felt this kind of energy at a swim meet.” She added, “Even at an international meet… I was blown away walking out there and seeing all the spectators” (SWIMSWAM.com, 6/24).
