Thursday, August 5, 2021
Huntsville Futures a Success on All Fronts
While we continue to adjust to a new normal when competing, one thing remains the same: swim meets start with the national anthem. In Huntsville, Ala., the pool was empty and everyone on deck eagerly awaited the beginning of day two prelims.
As the national anthem started to play, the audio began to weave in and out. Spectators and participants alike started asking, “Is there something wrong with the audio file? Are text messages coming through and cutting the sound off? Does a microphone need to be turned off?”
Then you hear it. A soft voice near you, a louder coach across the deck or a parent in the stands.
Soon, everyone inside the natatorium is singing the national anthem in unison and the audio glitch is a thing of the past. What started off as a hiccup ended up proving the one thing we all feel across the country: Wow, it is great to be at a swim meet, together, again.
In Huntsville, Ala., one of the four host sites for Futures Championships, participants buzzed around the two 50m pool decks in anticipation of a great event. Large and small clubs gathered for fast swimming and the swim meet did not disappoint.
The swimmers swam their hearts out, shredding off time as if to prove nothing, not even a pandemic, could stop them from reaching their goals. Athletes were not the only ones ready to perform, as coaches stood by with eager eyes and wide smiles ready to take the four-day swim meet head on. This is what championship meets are all about.
The Futures meets had a maximum of 800 swimmers, allowing for a full championship feel while still abiding by local guidelines and regulations. When USA Swimming, in combination with the guidance from the Senior Development Committee, provided this new opportunity for members in 2015, the goal was to offer additional racing opportunities for athletes who might not have been able to compete over the last couple of years. The attendance and results proved this was a successful step toward getting our athletes back in the water again.
As USA Swimming members continue to close out their summer seasons, we can take guidance from our Olympians in Tokyo. This has been a long and grueling couple of years, and we are ready to finish our seasons stronger than ever. Great job to all the swimmers in Huntsville, and across the nation, for a fantastic Futures weekend. USA Swimming is excited to see what the future holds for each of you.
To find more information about upcoming events in the Fall, please visit USA Swimming’s Events page here.
As the national anthem started to play, the audio began to weave in and out. Spectators and participants alike started asking, “Is there something wrong with the audio file? Are text messages coming through and cutting the sound off? Does a microphone need to be turned off?”
Then you hear it. A soft voice near you, a louder coach across the deck or a parent in the stands.
Soon, everyone inside the natatorium is singing the national anthem in unison and the audio glitch is a thing of the past. What started off as a hiccup ended up proving the one thing we all feel across the country: Wow, it is great to be at a swim meet, together, again.
In Huntsville, Ala., one of the four host sites for Futures Championships, participants buzzed around the two 50m pool decks in anticipation of a great event. Large and small clubs gathered for fast swimming and the swim meet did not disappoint.
The swimmers swam their hearts out, shredding off time as if to prove nothing, not even a pandemic, could stop them from reaching their goals. Athletes were not the only ones ready to perform, as coaches stood by with eager eyes and wide smiles ready to take the four-day swim meet head on. This is what championship meets are all about.
The Futures meets had a maximum of 800 swimmers, allowing for a full championship feel while still abiding by local guidelines and regulations. When USA Swimming, in combination with the guidance from the Senior Development Committee, provided this new opportunity for members in 2015, the goal was to offer additional racing opportunities for athletes who might not have been able to compete over the last couple of years. The attendance and results proved this was a successful step toward getting our athletes back in the water again.
As USA Swimming members continue to close out their summer seasons, we can take guidance from our Olympians in Tokyo. This has been a long and grueling couple of years, and we are ready to finish our seasons stronger than ever. Great job to all the swimmers in Huntsville, and across the nation, for a fantastic Futures weekend. USA Swimming is excited to see what the future holds for each of you.
To find more information about upcoming events in the Fall, please visit USA Swimming’s Events page here.