Sydney was shamed over its Olympic swimming complex - time to put it right

Secret talks are under way to build a new multi-million dollar pool at the Sydney Olympic swimming complex. It comes after the venue was shamed and dumped as a host for world-class competition.

The Aquatic Centre and swimming pool at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush. Picture: Toby Zerna

Secret talks are underway for a new multimillion dollar pool at the Sydney Olympic swimming complex after the iconic venue suffered the shame of being dumped as a host for world-class competition.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Swimming Australia has opened discussions with the NSW Government to restore an aquatic centre where Ian Thorpe created history by winning five medals, including three gold, at the 2000 Games.

A stunning oversight during the Covid-19 pandemic when the 50m warm-up pool was cemented to a consistent depth of just 1.2m to cater for learn-to-swim programs, meant Sydney was prohibited from staging major national and international meets.

Ian Thorpe with his gold medal following the men's 400-metre freestyle at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Picture: Getty Images

The capital works by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, which went ahead minus any consultation with elite swimming bodies, left it dangerous for competitors to dive or tumble turn in the warm-up pool, rendering it non-compliant for blue riband events.

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse confirmed on Tuesday that the sport’s governing body has spoken to Premier Chris Minns about a solution – building a third pool at the centre – and supplied him with preliminary drawings.

The Aquatic Centre and swimming pool at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush. Picture: Toby Zerna

Ironically, the contact was made last Thursday at an announcement that the national selection trials and Australian short course championships will be staged in Sydney next year.

However, neither of those events has the capacity or compliance issues associated with full-scale Australian championships or international meets such as world or Pan Pacific titles.

Woodhouse and Swimming NSW CEO Kirsten Thomson met privately with the Premier along with Thorpe and another Sydney Olympic gold medallist, Swimming Australia president Chris Fydler.

Ashley Callus, Chris Fydler, Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe celebrate after winning Gold in the Mens 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Picture: Al Bello Allsport

“This was the best pool in the world when we hosted the Pan Pacs in 1999 and the Olympics and Paralympics in 2000,” Mr Woodhouse said when approached by this masthead.

“We want to restore it back to its glory and we’re hopeful the government is listening.

“We will continue to engage with them. There’s various ongoing meetings with government departments so yeah, we’re hopeful, but it’s early days in those discussions.”

It is understood the proposed third pool, while providing the required warm-up and warm-down facility for major championships, would also cater for water polo and artistic swimming.

Flagged to be built behind one of the existing grandstands, the new pool would also have seating for up to 800 spectators and deliver a valuable community asset to an area where the population is expected to increase significantly over the next two decades.

“We’re really grateful for the NSW Government’s support to bring the trials and the Australian short course championships back to Sydney next year,” Mr Woodhouse said.

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse. Picture: Delly Carr

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Nikki Short

“It’s a real positive. We haven’t had many opportunities to have big events there given what happened with the warm-up pool.

“We still can’t host Australian age group and open championships and certainly not major international events.

“But the Pan Pacs in 2030 or the World Para championships in 2029 or 2031 would be fantastic opportunities if we did get an upgraded facility.”

Mr Woodhouse said Australia has already secured the Pan Pacs, to be held two years out from the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, but a host state has yet to be appointed.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully, asked about the third pool proposal, said: “As Sydney Olympic Park continues to grow, the NSW Government remains committed to delivering world-class sporting infrastructure that serves both community needs and high-performance athletes.”

Malik Amin, a member of the Swimming NSW high performance program, said the selection trials and short course championships in Sydney next year would be welcomed by aspiring athletes in the state.

“As a young swimmer I was inspired on pool deck by our Olympic and Paralympic champions and to have these athletes competing here in NSW will be inspiring for the next generation,” he added.

Ms Thomson said NSW Swimming has “an ambitious vision for our future and delivering positive outcomes for the NSW community”.

Originally published as Sydney was shamed over its Olympic swimming complex - time to put it right