The Carolina Natatorium - A Premiere Swimming and Diving Venue

Housed in the Sol Blatt P.E. Center, the Carolina Natatorium serves as the home to South Carolina Swimming and Diving.

Extending 50 meters in length and 25 yards in width, the pool meets all structural requirements for SEC and NCAA competition. One of the more convenient aspects of the pool is its ability to transform from an Olympic size pool to a recreational training facility. A moveable bulkhead allows the length of the pool to be set at 25 yards, 25 meters or 50 meters, allowing the Gamecocks to train for various meets.

The Carolina Diving facility

Renovated in January 2000, the Natatorium can also become a semi-open air facility. Featuring 12 solid electronic moveable doors throughout the natatorium, the doors allow Gamecock swimmers the opportunity to practice under simulated natural conditions. The doors also open to a beautiful sun deck that allows athletes to take full advantage of the warm, South Carolina sunshine. The renovation included new coaches' offices and meeting rooms, and a fresher look that includes banners of every SEC team, and plaques of every Gamecock All-America swimming and diving selection in school history. This new "Wall of Fame" is located in the spectator seating area, which provides a spectacular "birds eye" view of the pool area for fans to view exciting SEC action.

The Natatorium is also home to a quality diving venue. Featuring two one-meter and three meter boards and a five-meter diving platform, the natatoriums diving area presents student-athletes with a first rate training and meet facility. The diving area is 25 yards by 35 feet with depth slopes of 12-14 feet.

The Carolina Natatorium, home of South Carolina Swimming and Diving

Carolinas swimming facility also features a state of the art timing mechanism, the Colorado Timing system. It has a 10-lane readout for spectators and swimmers. The seating features 800 permanent seats with moveable seating to accommodate up to 400 more spectators.

The site of the 1995 SEC Championship, the Natatorium served as a training site for the 1996 Russian Olympic Team in June of 1996. The Natatorium was also the site of the mens USA-Russia Dual Meet, nationally televised in April 1995. The New Zealand team also came to USC prior to the Olympics for a meet. The Natatorium also hosts the South Carolina State High School Swimming Championships and the Columbia city championships every year.