Fans gather in Cary to watch, meet the U.S. swim team during practices for upcoming Olympics

CARY, N.C. (WNCN) — The Triangle Aquatic Center gave swim fans a peak into the U.S. Olympic swim team’s practice Saturday morning. Swimmers and fans camped out early outside the center in the hopes of being allowed into the training session for USA Swimming’s Public Day.

“It’s exciting just to see this many people come out and wanna cheer these Olympic athletes on and Team USA,” said Jonah Turner, a swim coach at Cardinal Gibbons High School.

Turner told CBS 17 that he and his family arrived at 7:30 a.m.

The U.S. Olympic swim team is halfway through its domestic training camp at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. U.S. Swimming said that 48 world-class athletes along with the coaching staff are calling the center home.

“Everything these athletes need to be at their best, is here,” said Anthony Nesty, one of the Olympic Swimming head coaches.

The Triangle Aquatic Center said its facilities, including both an indoor and outdoor 50-meter pool, and proximity to an airport with direct flights to Europe made the training center an attractive destination for Team USA.

Coach Nesty noted during a news conference that swimmers were impressed with the facilities.

Fans watched swimming household names, like Katie Ledecky and Ryan Murphy, practice Saturday morning. Many also waited in line for autographs from their favorite athletes.

Ryan Murphy told CBS 17 that these final weeks are crucial in making sure the swimmer is prepared physically and mentally for his third time competing in the Olympics.

“Just trying to treat yourself as well as you can in this time. We’re going to go to a situation in Paris that will be super stressful. It’s going to be very exciting, and hopefully we’ll have great results that we can celebrate, but just trying to rest up for that,” said Murphy

Team USA still has a few more days in the Triangle, before leaving for Croatia on July 11 for their next training camp.

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