Competitive swimmers plead for new Olympic pool in Ottawa

Local swim clubs are calling on the cityto build better facilitiesor risk having athletes leave Ottawato train elsewhere.

Of the three 50-metre pools in the city, swim clubs say only one theNepean Sportplex is fit for competitive swim meets.

The University ofOttawa and Carleton University bothhave 50-metre pools, but Carleton's only has six lanes and the U of O's lacksenough spectator space.

"If we want to own the podium...we have to have the right facilities in the city, and currently we do not," said Tom Anzai, founder and president of Swim Ottawa.

"Penny Oleksiakhas risen to the top because she [trains]in the new Pan Am pool."- Tom Anzai, Swim Ottawa

The plea comes in the wake of Canada's Olympic success in the pool in Rio in particular, the four-medal performance by 16-year-old swimming sensation Penny Oleksiak and a surge in interest in competitive swimming.

• The Penny Effect: Swim clubs anticipate busy season following Olympics
• Olympic hopefuls dazzled by Penny Oleksiak's gold

Greater Ottawa Kingfish President Kevin Jones says the demand for competitive swimming in Ottawa right now is so great, his club is having to turn away new members.

But many swimmers leave the city once they reach university, said Jones, in search of better facilities.

"We see people going to University of Toronto because it is affiliated with the Pan Am facility that was built in 2015. In Vancouver there's a high performance centre," Jones told CBC News.

"[In one year] we only managed to retain threeor fourswimmers out of a graduating group of 15 swimmers."

Emily Anzai, Tom Anzai's daughter,is one star swimmer who has chosen to leave her hometown. She now swims for the University of Guelphand attended the Olympic trials this year.

"I wanted to pick a university that gave me the best option for school and for swimming," said 21-year old Anzai, noting that shechose Guelphbecause it has a 25-metre pool on campus and a 50-metre Olympic pool nearby.

"Guelph is one-sixth the size of Ottawa, so it's really awesome they have both options."

Facilities 'key' to reaching podium

Her father says athletic facilities "absolutely" make a difference in winning medals.

"There's two key ingredients for any sport," Tom Anzai said."Number one, you have to have the coaches, top rate coaches that understand the swimmers. Then,number two, you have to have the facilities to promote that development."

"Penny Oleksiakhas risen to the top because she [trains]in the new Pan Am pool."

The Aquatic Centre at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre has two Olympicsized swimming pools, a dive tank, andseating for more than 2,000 spectators.

The last 50-metre pool to be built in Ottawa was in the1970s.

2021 opportunity for Ottawa?

Both swim club ownerssay that Ottawa's bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games is an opportunity for new investment in swimming facilities.

"Some cities, likeLondon, Ontario for example, built pools specifically for that competition," said Anzai. "I see no reason why Ottawa should not be doing the same kind of thing."

But the city has no plans for new Olympic pools any time soon.

Dan Chenier, the city's general manager ofparks, recreation and cultural services,says that althougha new 50-metre pool in Ottawa would benefit swim clubs, building one wouldrequire significant additional capital and lead to ongoing operating costs.

Instead, the city is focused on the needs of the general public, he said.

"The City's aquatic services are focused on delivering programs at the introductory and intermediate levels, which translates into high demand for programs such as swimming lessons, public swimming, aqua fitness, and aquatic camps that are well served by 25-metre pools," Chenier said in a statement.

The city said it alsorecognizes that many swim clubs prefer a 50-metre pool, promising toconsult with them as it reviews its recreation policy.