James E. Martin Aquatics Center
Encyclopedia
The James E. Martin Aquatics Center is a swimming complex on the Auburn University
campus in Auburn, Alabama
. It is the home pool of the Auburn University
and Auburn High School swimming and diving programs. The Martin Aquatics Center has hosted the NCAA Men's
(1998) and Women's
(2003) Swimming and Diving Championships, as well as the US Open in 1995, 2000, and 2005. In 2002, Sports Illustrated
rated the Martin Aquatics Center indoor pool the third-fastest pool in the United States
.
, President of Auburn University from 1984 through 1992, who spearheaded the facility's construction.
of the following heights: 1 metres (3.3 ft), 3 metres (9.8 ft), 5 metres (16.4 ft), 7.5 metres (24.6 ft) and 10 metres (32.8 ft) , and springboard
s of the following heights: two 1 metres (3.3 ft) and two 3 metres (9.8 ft) . The facility contains seating for 1000 spectators and 800 competitors.
The oldest part of the Martin Aquatic Center was a 1969 pool that is currently used as the indoor training pool. In the early 1990s construction began on a $10.5 million expansion of that facility to include the current competition area. The facility was opened in 1993 and dedicated on April 30, 1994 as the James E. Martin Aquatics Center. In its first year, the facility hosted the Southeastern Conference
championships, followed by the US Open in 1995.
In 1996, the facility hosted the Olympic
swimming and diving teams of China
, Japan
, Finland
, Israel
and South Africa
and the United States
water polo
team training for the 1996 Summer Olympics
in nearby Atlanta, Georgia
. In 1998, the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
were held at the Aquatic Center, and in 2000 the US Open returned. Martin hosted both the SEC championships and the NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships
in 2003, and the US Open in 2005. In 2007, a new outdoor training pool was opened adjacent to the facility.
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
campus in Auburn, Alabama
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
. It is the home pool of the Auburn University
Auburn Tigers swimming and diving
The Auburn Tigers swimming and diving program is Auburn University's representative in the sport of swimming and diving. The Tigers compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 and are members of the Southeastern Conference. The program started in 1932 when the pool was in the...
and Auburn High School swimming and diving programs. The Martin Aquatics Center has hosted the NCAA Men's
NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
The NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are college championship events in the USA. The event is held annually, and the NCAA hosts Swimming & Diving Championships in each of its three Divisions ....
(1998) and Women's
NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships
NCAA Team Championships for Women's Swimming and Diving-Division I:-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Swimming and Diving Champions*List of college swimming and diving teams-References:*...
(2003) Swimming and Diving Championships, as well as the US Open in 1995, 2000, and 2005. In 2002, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
rated the Martin Aquatics Center indoor pool the third-fastest pool in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Facility
The 77,629 ft² James E. Martin Aquatics Center consists of three pools: an indoor training pool (built in 1969), an outdoor training pool (2007), a competition pool with diving well (1993). The Center is named for James E. MartinJames E. Martin
James Everett Martin was the President of the University of Arkansas from 1980 to 1984, and of Auburn University from 1984 to 1992.-Biography:...
, President of Auburn University from 1984 through 1992, who spearheaded the facility's construction.
Competition pool
The Martin Aquatics Center competition pool was constructed in 1993 as part of a $10.5 million expansion to the previous swimming facility. The pool is 77 metres (252.6 ft)×25 metres (82 ft), with a general depth of 9 feet (2.7 m)-10 feet (3 m) extending to 16.5 feet (5 m) in the diving well. The pool has two moveable bulkheads allowing for variable distance competitions and simultaneous diving. The pool contains a gutter system which minimizes wave reflection along the sides of the pool, as well as a water pass-through system in the bulkheads which reduces wave reflection on turns. The diving area contains platformsDiving platforms
A diving platform or diving tower is a type of structure used for competitive diving.They consist of a vertical rigid "tower" with one or more horizontal platforms extending out over a deep pool of water. In platform diving, the diver jumps from a high stationary surface...
of the following heights: 1 metres (3.3 ft), 3 metres (9.8 ft), 5 metres (16.4 ft), 7.5 metres (24.6 ft) and 10 metres (32.8 ft) , and springboard
Springboard
A springboard or diving board is used for diving and is a board that is itself a spring, i.e. a linear flex-spring, of the cantilever type....
s of the following heights: two 1 metres (3.3 ft) and two 3 metres (9.8 ft) . The facility contains seating for 1000 spectators and 800 competitors.
Training pools
The facility contains an indoor training pool, constructed in 1969, which previously served as the competition pool, and an outdoor pool, completed in 2007 at a cost of approximately $2 million. The outdoor training pool is 50×25 m with 10 lanes.History
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
championships, followed by the US Open in 1995.
In 1996, the facility hosted the Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
swimming and diving teams of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
team training for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in nearby Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. In 1998, the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
The NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships are college championship events in the USA. The event is held annually, and the NCAA hosts Swimming & Diving Championships in each of its three Divisions ....
were held at the Aquatic Center, and in 2000 the US Open returned. Martin hosted both the SEC championships and the NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships
NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships
NCAA Team Championships for Women's Swimming and Diving-Division I:-See also:*AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Swimming and Diving Champions*List of college swimming and diving teams-References:*...
in 2003, and the US Open in 2005. In 2007, a new outdoor training pool was opened adjacent to the facility.