The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC) is a legacy venue of the 1990 Seattle Goodwill Games. This 2,500-seat facility maintains one of the most active competition schedules in the country, hosting more than 50 events annually. It has been the site of Olympic Trials, top national and international competitions, and the Pacific Northwest’s premiere events.

In December, the venue held the 2015 AT&T Winter National Championships where Michael Phelps won the 200-meter individual medley. After the race, Phelps reminisced on his career at the WKCAC. “It was kind of here where I started, really” he told the Seattle Times.  As a 15-year-old, Phelps swam in his first national meet at the KCAC and it was the place where he broke two minutes in the 200 butterfly.

Over the years, many talented athletes have passed through the KCAC but it holds a special connection for these two local Olympic athletes:

Nathan Adrian:

Growing up in Bremerton, Adrian trained at the WKCAC  for the Tacoma Swim Club and it is where he eventually won state titles in 2006. Like Phelps, Adrian returned to the WKCAC for the U.S. Winter Nationals. “It really is, in my opinion, one of the fastest pools out there,” he said. “Any elite swimmer knows what I’m talking about. A pool can be fast.” he told the Kitsap Sun.

Katrina Young:

A shoreline native who made the 45 minute commute to train at the WKCAC. “I think I spent more time at that pool than I did at home during the daytime,” she told the Seattle Times. After years of hard work and perseverance, Young is a world class diver who is ready to take on the Olympics. Watch her compete this Wednesday in the Women’s 10m platform.

Just a friendly reminder that the WKCAC is currently closed for capital improvements but it will reopen September 6. Read the news release for more information.