Trust. Partnerships. Community support and engagement.

Those are the major reasons USA Swimming leaders decided to bring U.S. Olympic Swim Trials back to Omaha for a fourth consecutive time in 2020.

But after last summer’s Trials – the most successful ever in terms of financial impact, attendance, sponsorships and participation – several changes occurred that raised questions about whether or not Omaha made sense to act as host again.

Meet director Harold Cliff, who had run three successful Trials in Omaha, left the Omaha Sports Commission. USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus announced his retirement as did U.S. National Team Director Frank Busch. Longtime USA Swimming sponsor and Omaha business Mutual of Omaha stepped away from its sponsorship in February.

Was it time for a change? Could Omaha deliver a fourth time and better or equal what was accomplished in 2016? Did another city deserve a chance at bringing some of the world’s best swimmers to that part of the country?

At the core of the decision – no matter all of the outside factors – was those three reasons the Olympic Trials work in Omaha: trust, partnerships and community support and engagement.

Ultimately, they proved too strong to sever longstanding ties between Omaha and USA Swimming.

Needless to say, as someone who has lived in the Omaha area since 2003, this is a Swim win-win for everyone involved.

During Monday’s news conference at the CenturyLink Center – site of the past three Trials and now the 2020 competition – that message was clearly delivered by participating parties – USA Swimming Interim Chief Executive Officer Mike Unger, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Nebraska Governor Pete Rickets and Omaha Sports Commission President/Executive Director Wes Hall.

This is a successful partnership that everyone – city, state and USA Swimming – has benefitted from for almost a decade.

Each year, meet attendance, qualifiers and TV coverage and sponsorships have increased for Trials – and, of course, the swimming has been world-class.

Last year, Trials were the most successful ever. Every session sold out. Primetime TV coverage for every semifinals and finals. Media in attendance from all parts of the world.

The results for USA Swimming – a team that won 33 medals in Rio, 16 of them gold – were equally successful for the United States’ most consistently dominant Olympic sport.

The payoff for Omaha – thousands of competitors, family, friends and fans attending the most competitive swim meet in the word. With roughly 70 percent of them traveling from outside of the city, the financial impact – air travel, hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc. – was $74 million.

Compare that to the annual College World Series, which brings in around $50 million to the city coffers, and you’ve got a sports city that shows its people and businesses support and embrace events and welcome visitors to town as new friends.

While Omaha had emerged as the winner in a bidding process by cities to host the past three Trials, the city was the first and only choice for the 2020 Trials.

Unger said the relationship – the partnership – is so smooth and strong and has been so successful that Omaha was always the best choice.

He cited size of the city, proximity of hotels and food and ease of traffic and transportation as pivotal factors in bringing Trials back to Omaha. Even Mutual of Omaha stopping its sponsorship of USA Swimming wasn’t enough to take Trials to another city.

The bottom line is this partnership works. It benefits everyone involved, and, as has already been proven by increasingly successful events over the past three Trials, it’s one that should work as a permanent partnership.

While it’s not a given, as long as the next Trials is a success, Omaha will continue to make sense as the host of future U.S. Olympic Swim Trials.

We love having the event in town – and we’re already getting ready for the arrival of more swimmers and swim fans in three years.

More hotels are in the process of being built, several within walking distance or a short drive from the CenturyLink Center. The Old Market and other parts of the city continue to expand and improve – more restaurants, shopping and places to visit not far from the Clink.

Last year after Trials and the Olympics (and before an announcement for 2020 Trials was made), I asked several coaches and swimmers what they think about Trials coming back to Omaha or even being a permanent location, and they were all supportive of that happening.

Just like them, everyone in metro Omaha is excited about Trials returning to town. We’re looking forward to and expecting an even faster, more thrilling Trials, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back to town once again in 2020 if not sooner.

Coach Bruce Gemmell

“From an athlete and coach perspective, repeating in Omaha is great. It maintains being special because we are only there once every four years (as opposed to a place like Indy where we were there 2-3-4 times every year between Trials) and yet we are all familiar with the venue layout, hotels, eating, etc. We expect and GET a first-class operation.”

U.S. National and 2015 World Champion Team Member Kendyl Stewart

“Omaha has been a great host for the past Olympic Trials. It's a very sport-oriented town, also holding the NCAA College World Series every year. I think the people of Omaha are genuinely excited to have such a big event held in their town; everyone I encountered was always excited to meet a swimmer and have a chance to follow their success. The pool is conveniently located in downtown Omaha, with an easy walk to hotels, shops and restaurants- which makes it an ideal place for a competition. I have only ever competed in an Olympic Trials in Omaha, and in that way, the pool is almost "reserved" for the biggest meet on U.S. soil every four years. The fact that no other meets are hosted at that pool keeps the venue fresh and characteristic of USA Swimming Olympic Trials. It keeps the right level of unfamiliarity- so you can keep the exhilaration when you walk into the CenturyLink Center. 

2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Melanie Margalis

“I think it's an advantage having trials in the same location for people who have already been at Trials because they have the experience in that pool and that intense atmosphere. Also, it's such a nice facility with plenty of room for everyone to swim, sit and change. I love the fact that they have a short course area to warm up.”

2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Murphy

“I think there are a lot of advantages to having Olympic Trials in the same location. It provides a level of comfort to the athletes because we know what to expect. Also, USA Swimming is able to assess how to improve the event while having a clear picture of the facility's opportunities.”

2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Breeja Larson

“Omaha is a great place for Trials because it was very spacious and has 2x50 meter pools as well as a 25 yard pool for sprints. I loved the excitement with the fire lining the pool deck and the waterfall that spelled out our names and the loud crowd that gave everyone so much support! I loved the downtown feel and the mom and pop shops and how everything is very close and convenient. I do think there is a benefit in having Olympic Trials in the same location for the athletes. There's no surprises for the returning Trial veterans. We're comfortable in knowing where everything is and are able to visualize our races and our surroundings because we've been there before. And also it's a very neutral place. I don't know how many swimmers come out of Omaha (I'm sure there are plenty of talented swimmers there, just not a majority of the competition), but most of the swimmers are in the same conditions being away from home which levels out the playing field.”

2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Jessica Hardy

“Omaha provides a sense of comfort for everyone attending Olympic Trials. They have held very successful Trials three times now, and we can train with confidence that they will be putting on an amazing event. The city does an amazing job hosting us, especially with the College World Series happening at the same time.”

I am a bit biased, because my first Olympic Trials were held in my hometown, Long Beach, Calif., in 2004, so I wish that could've happened again in my career, but you can't argue with the great job that Omaha does every time!”

2012 and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky

“I think having Trials in the same location each year is beneficial in that there is a sense of familiarity for the swimmers and coaches, with respect to the venue setup, hotels, and restaurants, in Omaha. I was excited to see there were some additions or changes to the setup (this year), making for an even better experience for the athletes and fans.”