US OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER

Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic Training Center. We decided to visit the place where U.S. athletes go with dreams of making the U.S. Olympic team for the summer games. There is a winter sports training facility in Lake Placid, New York that caters to the training for the winter Olympics sports.

The training center was tucked in an older residential neighborhood. However, the architecture of the buildings is modern and striking to the eye.

This large globe contains a small plaque for each Olympic sport  around the base as well as the five Olympic rings. Does Paul have the weight of the world on his shoulders?

Our tour began with a very informative video about the training facility and some of the athletes that train there. After the video, our tour guide took us through the campus. First stop was the athlete dorms and dining hall. Did you know the head chef here has won cooking contests against some of the most notable chefs in the world?

We visited several of the practice facilities. This sign outside this gym pays tribute to the men's and women's indoor volleyball and beach volleyball.

There were multiple courts in the gym. The main court is used for both basketball and volleyball.

The natatorium was actually larger than an "Olympic size" swimming pool. There were 10 lanes. We did not see any of our Olympic swimmers during our visit, although our tour guide said Michael Phelps was in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago.

Caleb, our guide, was pointing out the fitness facility across the walkway.

 
This fitness facility contained a large assortment of free weights, machines, an indoor running track above the main floor, and a larger track that goes around the main floor and then goes outside towards the west through large doors that can be opened in the warmer weather.

Our Olympic athletes not only gain the skills of their sport here in Colorado but benefit greatly from training at 6000 feet above sea level.  We enjoyed seeing the facilities that are available to our Olympic athletes that they can use to get ready for the summer games.