The University of Memphis has two Olympic sized pools. But not for much longer. The new recreations center will have much smaller pools.
Construction of the new $53 million recreational center will begin next year. University of Memphis officials boast many new and upgraded features. However, one feature will leave athletes without a place to practice.
The pool in the new recreation center is too small for swimmers to practice, and will force them to look elsewhere for an Olympic sized pool, said Ben Davis, the coach of Memphis Tigers Swimming – a swimming team not affiliated with the U of M Athletics Department.
“It is a shame, we don’t know where we are going right now. If we do not build a facility, the Memphis Tigers Swimming teams will cease to exist.†Ben Davis, coach of Memphis Tigers Swimming.
The eight Memphis Tigers Swimming teams have held their practice at the recreation center every week since it opened decades ago, but after the new recreation center is built they will be unable to swim in the new smaller pools.
“We will have to find somewhere else to swim because our 200 swimmers will not fit into the new facility,†Davis said.
The current rec center has two Olympic sized pools – both 160 feet or 50 meters in length. However, the largest pool in the new rec center will only be 75 feet.
The swimming teams will have to relocate, or build a facility of their own if they are unable to find a new practice facility, Davis said.
“It is a shame, we don’t know where we are going right now. If we do not build a facility, the Memphis Tigers Swimming teams will cease to exist,†Davis said.
The Memphis swim teams have produced at least four swimmers who later competed in the Olympics, Davis said. Gill Stovall is one of the four who trained in the Memphis Tigers Swimming team. He is now one of the Memphis Tigers Swimming team coaches.
Although the new facility downsizes in certain areas such as the pool, it has upgraded in other areas.
Along with a smaller pool the new rec center will contain a rock climbing wall, five basketball courts, two indoor and outdoor leisure pools, four racquetball courts, and an indoor track.
“The current recreational facility is outdated,†said Brandon Moore, a junior psychology major who visits the rec roughly four times a week. “The number of students at the U of M is growing and the size of the current rec is not sustainable.â€
Two basketball courts are in the current recreation facility, but the new recreational facility will contain five basketball courts.
“When I go to play basketball, there are sometimes 10 people ahead of me waiting to play,†said Jawan Clinton, a junior who spends his free time on the court. “Sometimes people will lie to get ahead of you and I hate that.â€
