‘Huge opportunity:’ Local swimmer on competing in U.S. Swimming Futures Championships in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Some of the country’s fastest swimmers and potential Olympians are in Huntsville this week for the 2024 USA Swimming Futures Championships, something North Alabama swimmers are thrilled to be competing in with the event taking place in their hometown.

Fresh off his senior year, Lance Young with the Huntsville Swim Association is preparing for his last ride with some of his teammates before heading to college this Fall and will compete in the U.S. Swimming Futures Championships.

“I’m looking forward to the relays because I’m a senior in high school so this is the last time I’m going to be able to get up and swim with all my friends and my team,” Young said.

Young explained how the early mornings and same-day evenings training in the pool are what’s prepared him and his teammates for the monumental event taking place at the Huntsville Aquatic Center.

The 18-year-old knows Futures is one of the many swim meets athletes have to qualify for prior to earning an opportunity at the Olympics and it’s an opportunity he’s not taking for granted.

“Coming here and getting to swim at these meets especially in our hometown really showcases a lot, especially for kids that want to swim in college,” Young said. “Having different college coaches here watching you online now that we have all this video access, it really is a huge opportunity.”

Over 900 of some of the country’s best swimmers are competing in the Rocket City for the major swim meet providing a home facility for athletes like Young from the area.

“The atmosphere, you know that your home crowd is watching, your parents can come to see you swim it’s not a travel meet for us so it’s really important we get up and have a good show for everybody,” Young told News 19.

Huntsville Sports Commission Executive Director Mark Russell says the aquatic center offers unique opportunities for the city to host major sporting events like Futures that are a boost for the local economy.

“If we have great facilities our swimmers get better and when we bring in a tournament like this they compete against the best and they get better,” Russell said. “When you’re watching the Paris Olympics there’ll be several U.S. swimmers that swam here, it’s a great meet with a lot outstanding athletes.”

The U.S. Swimming Futures Championships will run through Saturday and it’s expected to bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars to area businesses.

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