Fort Lauderdale's swimming heritage dates back to the Civitan raft off Las Olas Boulevard and the monumental Casino Pool, which followed in 1928. As the first pool of Olympic size (50mx20m) in Florida, it remained at the forefront of the swimming scene for nearly half a century and consequently witnessed a great deal of American swimming history.

Located directly on the beach at what is now known as D.C. Alexander Park, just south of Las Olas Boulevard, this beautiful Spanish-style facility was engineered by Clifford Root and filled twice a week with saltwater directly from the Atlantic Ocean. The Casino Pool (1928-1966) was home to the nation's top swimmers for decades, namely Katherine Rawls, Fort Lauderdale's first celebrity of sport and international athletic ambassador. The pool cost was $150,000 and measured 50.38 meters by 18.3 meters.

Originally built in 1965, the property is home to the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex, a municipal pool owned and operated by the City of Fort Lauderdale. Considered a leader and pioneer among the world's top aquatic centers, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex contains two 50-meter Olympic-size pools, a diving pool, a teaching pool, and a spa.

The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex is home to U.S. National Team Champions, the Fort Lauderdale Dive Team (FLDT), and Swim Fort Lauderdale (SFTL). Swim Fort Lauderdale is an award winning USA Swimming and U.S. Masters Swimming team. In 2012, SFTL earned USA Swimming Level 3 club honors and was recognized by USA Swimming as a Silver Medal National Club of Excellence.

Dave Burgering, 2008 USA Olympic Coach, member of the 1980 USA Olympic, and past president of USA Diving directs the diving team. With over 70 years of combined experience, highly acclaimed coaches Jennifer and Dave Gibson are the head age group coaches for Swim Fort Lauderdale. Marty Hendrick, who lead Fort Lauderdale swimmers to the 2010 U.S. Masters National team championship title is the head coach of the adult masters team.

Open 365 days a year, the aquatic complex is an active facility and hosts an average of 50 events each year over an impressive 100 days. The pool's legacy includes the Annual College Swim Forum, U.S. National Swimming Championships, YMCA National Swimming & Diving Championships, U.S. Masters National Swimming Championships, NCAA National Water Polo Championships, the FINA/U.S. International Diving Invitational, and national and international synchronized swimming competitions.

As a training site for many national and international teams, the complex is unique in that it is also a public facility, operated by the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department. Residents and visitors of Fort Lauderdale have an opportunity to swim in the same pool where ten world records have been set and where Olympic and world champions train.

Katherine Rawls

Katherine Rawl's swimming prowess (1930-1939) not only put the tiny beach town of Fort Lauderdale on the map as a tourist destination, but it launched Fort Lauderdale's swimming legacy with the beginning of the College Swim Forum in 1935 and later the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1964.

At 5-foot-2-inch and a muscular 107 pounds, she was described as, "a tiny slip of a girl with the fighting spirit and trim lines of a tarpon." However, it was the kind personality and charm of this Fort Lauderdale High alumna that sold South Florida and Fort Lauderdale to millions in newsreels, magazines, and newspapers across the world.

Katherine Rawls reigned supreme over American swimming and diving during the 1930s. In 1937, she was elected by the Associated Press as "The Number One Athlete of the Year" among female competitors taking top honors over champions including Patty Berg, Babe Didrikson, Alice Marble, and Eleanor Holm.

Katherine Rawls inspired generations of children and is amongst the greatest athletes Florida has produced, capturing a record 30 national titles in swimming and diving. During her career, Katherine won 14 national outdoor swimming titles, 11 indoor national titles, and five national diving titles in addition to making the 1932 Olympic Diving Team, the 1936 Olympic Swimming and Diving Teams, and holding the world record in the individual medley.

At her retirement in 1939, Katherine joined the war effort by becoming one of the world's top woman flyers and one of the original 25 women pilots selected for the U.S. Squadron of Women's Army Ferry Service, who shuttled World War II planes to combat zones for the Air Transport Command.

Through her athletic accomplishments and goodwill Katherine Rawls became as much associated with South Florida as coconuts, orange juice, Seminoles, palm trees, pelicans, and alligators. In honor of her many accomplishments, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Virginia Young declared January 28, 1973, Katherine Rawls Day in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

References
Burghard, August. Half A Century In Florida
Dawson, Buck. Weissmuller To Spitz

For more information, visit the International Swimming Hall of Fame website.

Olympians

Many athletes that have represented the City of Fort Lauderdale as members of the USA Olympic Team.

Swimmers - Fort Lauderdale Swim Team

*Jack Nelson is the only head Olympic swimming coach to have also been an Olympic athlete.

Divers - Fort Lauderdale Dive Team

World Records

Since its opening, ten world records have been set at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex. Two were broken in one day on August 13, 1991, during the Phillips 66/US National Swimming Championships. Two more were broken within 48 hours in August 2002.

Natalie Coughlin of the USA, on her way to becoming the first woman to swim under one minute in the 100-meter backstroke and the first American in 37 years to hold the world record in the event.

Michael Phelps of the USA, on his speedy way to a new world record in the Men's 400m Individual Medley.

For other world records, see the following chart.

Photo History