YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the 2,600 YMCAs across the country, is excited to announce that the 2024 YMCA National Long Course Swimming Championships will be held at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) in Ocala, FL, July 30 – August 3, 2024. The event hosts approximately 800 athletes from across the country as the culmination of the YMCA swimming year.
CHICAGO, Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the 2,600 YMCAs across the country, is excited to announce that the 2024 YMCA National Long Course Swimming Championships will be held at Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) in Ocala, FL, July 30 – August 3, 2024. The event hosts approximately 800 athletes from across the country as the culmination of the YMCA swimming year.
Opened in 2022, FAST is a state-of-the-art aquatics center featuring both indoor and outdoor 50 meter pools, and regularly hosts USA Swimming, NCAA and high school competitions. This is the first year the YMCA National Long Course Swimming Championships will be held at FAST, and the event will continue at this location until 2026. The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau will provide almost $100,000 to Y-USA over the next three years in support of this event.
"We extend our gratitude to the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau for its generous support of this event," said Meredith Griffin, Manager for National Competitive Events for Y-USA. "Its commitment to this event underscores the significance of fostering community and promoting the spirit of competition – we're excited to create a splash and create lasting memories in Ocala over the next three years!"
"We are very fortunate to welcome the YMCA National Long Course Swimming Championships to Ocala/Marion County and continue our development as an elite swimming destination," said Loretta Shaffer, Tourism Development Director. "With an estimated economic impact of $2.4 million, this season-culminating championship will provide significant growth to our local economy. We hope everyone enjoys this spectacular facility and has a great time exploring our wonderful outdoor playground."
The first YMCA National Long Course Swimming Championship took place in 1986 in Cincinnati, OH. Recent hosts have included Greensboro, NC, Indianapolis, IN, and College Park, MD. For almost 40 years, the event has played host to thousands of youth and teen swimmers – many of whom have gone on to compete and earn medals at the collegiate, professional, masters and Olympic levels.
Interview and media opportunities available upon request. The FAST facility is located at 4635 SW 67 Avenue Road, Ocala, FL 34474.
About the Y
Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community for more than 175 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they're from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y's goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across 10,000 communities nationwide. Learn more at ymca.org.
About the Ocala/Marion County, FL Visitors and Convention Bureau
Internationally renowned among equestrians, cyclists, geologists, and even the world of classic cinematography, Ocala/Marion County still feels like a hidden gem to those who aren't already insiders. And yet, when you're here, you're never an outsider. The relaxed, genuine friendliness of the county's communities makes you feel welcome wherever you go. From its otherworldly natural springs to the compounds of World Equestrian Center and Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training to its vibrant restaurants, quaint shops, dynamic arts and culture, and historic sites, the destination takes you by surprise in the best of ways. For more information about Ocala/Marion County, visit OcalaMarion.com or call toll-free 1.888.FL.OCALA.
Media Contact
Ashley Shewey, YMCA of the USA, 312-416-0870, [email protected], https://www.ymca.org/
Corry Locke, Ocala/Marion County, FL Visitors & Convention Bureau, 352-438-2839, [email protected], https://www.ocalamarion.com/
SOURCE YMCA of the USA
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