Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex (Training pool). Have Goggles, Will Travel Pool #103

Home of the International Swimming Hall of Fame!

Fresh from a massive renovation, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex sits on the thin slither of land between the Atlantic Ocean and inland waterways.

This complex is enormous and can host aquatic sports at the highest level. This is a swimmer’s dream venue with three separate pools, two being full 50-meter Olympic specifications.

The main ‘competition pool’, complete with spectator stands and high-tech electronic timing systems and 10ft depth, features two floating pontoons that span the width of the pool; in day-to-day operations, the competition pool is split into two 25-yard pools for short course training.

The ‘training pool’ is a second, separate 50m, 10 lane pool that exceeds most Olympic pools’ specifications, albeit with a shallower depth.

The diving tower is now prominent on the Fort Lauderdale beach skyline, complete with a terrifying 27-meter high-dive platform!

The pool is also home to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, although currently, the exhibition is in a temporary facility, and the main exhibits are in storage whilst the main building is refitted.

I’m in Fort Lauderdale visiting the Seatrade trade show; my selection of hotel, the Hilton Maren, was by convenience and proximity to the trade show venue; that it overlooks one the world’s best swimming facilities was the deciding factor when booking! I was fortunate on arrival to be upgraded to a room with a sea-view balcony; I was more impressed that it had a pool view!

I watched an evening training session from the balcony - these must have been a state swim team; each of the 10 lanes had two swimmers doing 100m sets; I timed one, approx. 57 seconds!

Have a late morning gap in my schedule, check the pool timetable and plan to tackle both pools in one go.

Make the short two-minute walk from the hotel room to the pool entrance. I’m asked to sign in on arrival, but I don’t have to pay a penny; it’s free entry!

Select an empty lane and make a start. I’m far from swim-fit, and this is the first 50m pool swim in a few years. Complete a plodding pace of sub 1.33/100 for the first 1,000 meters - my shoulders are definitely missing the momentary relief of frequent flip turns!

Complete a 2km, then head over to pool number 2, the ‘competition pool’.