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What makes the Sydney Olympic pool so fast?
by Cheryl Wagner

While watching the 2000 Olympics in Sydney I couldn't help wondering why their competition pool was considered so "fast". I found myself daydreaming about swimming personal bests in the Sydney International Aquatic Centre in a Sharkskin, next to Jenny Thompson. So I decided to investigate just what makes a pool "fast".

A "fast" pool has:

  • a gutter system that allows water to flow out easily and prevents waves from bouncing back toward the middle of the pool;
  • lanelines that help control waves; and
  • sufficient depth to prevent waves from bouncing back toward the surface.

    The Syndney pool had additional factors which created an atmosphere conducive to fast swimming:

    1. Wet deck water returns on each side to reduce reflected wave patterns
    2. Minimum depth of 2m to reduce reflective turbulence
    3. Anti-wave lane ropes
    4. Specially designed starting blocks with slope, hand and foot grips to ensure a good start
    5. Pool design, finishes, colours and sound properties within the building to create a pleasant atmosphere
    6. Separate concourse area air-conditioning to ensure appropriate conditions for competitors
    7. Pool heating according to FINA requirements
    8. The most advanced filtration available using ozone to ensure water free of chemical odors and eye irritation
    9. Evenly distributed natural and artificial lighting in the Competition and Utility Pool which could be increased to 2000 lux -- suitable for high definition TV
    10. Media Centre, overlooking the Competition Pool, electronic scoreboard and state of the art timing equipment.
    11. Reinforced concrete constructed to extremely tight tolerances to ensure dimensional accuracy.

    An interesting side note about the facility is that a time capsule has been placed below the eastern wall of the Competition Pool. It contains memorabilia including a copy of Sydney's Candidature File for the 2000 Olympic Games and a letter from FINA. The capsule will be opened on 16 September 2050, 50 years after the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.