U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials 2024 breaks attendance record yet again after crossing the 20k mark on opening day

The 2024 U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium have once again seen record-breaking attendance on Day 5 of the trials. The trials, which kicked off on June 15, are set to culminate on June 23, 2024.

The U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials’ attendance on Day 5 surpassed the previous mark that the event had achieved on Day 1, recording 20,689 spectators. The attendance on Day 1 exceeded the previous record of 16,000 attendees set during the final session of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, took to their X (formerly Twitter) to share the new attendance record of 22,209, which is also the highest attendance for a swimming competition, stating:

“What the swimming community deserves 🥹”

Lucas Oil Stadium, hosting the Olympic trials for the first time, has an overall seating capacity of around 30,000 for swimming enthusiasts. With a few days remaining before the conclusion of the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials, the current attendance record of 22,209 is also expected to be broken again.

It is worth noting that the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials are taking place for the first time in a football stadium. The stadium is known for being the home venue of NFL team Indianapolis Colts.

Two world records have been set in the 2024 U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials

Regan Smith of the United States reacts after setting the word record in the Women's 100m backstroke final on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on June 18, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

In addition to setting new attendance records, the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials have seen two world records being shattered courtesy of brilliant performances by Gretchen Walsh and Regan Smith in the women’s 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke, respectively.

Walsh clocked a sensational 55.18s in the semifinals to break the previous world record of Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström set at 55.48s during the 2016 Rio Olympics finals.

On the other hand, Regan Smith was exceptional in the final of the 100m backstroke as she established the world record in a time of 57.13s, beating the previous record by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown. McKeown registered this record in a time of 57.33s at the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest.