The Hoosier State has a proven track record of success on the world’s largest stages
For 16 days in the summer of 2020, millions of people around the world will collectively fixate their gaze upon Tokyo, home of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Japan’s capital city will become the first in Asia to host the Games twice, while this edition will feature the introduction of several new Summer Olympic sports, including 3×3 basketball, freestyle BMX and Madison cycling. Karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding will all make their Olympic debuts, while baseball and softball—removed from competition for the past two cycles—make triumphant returns. Sports traditions, a history of excellence, world-class facilities, and talented athletes and coaches have helped cultivate the Olympic movement in Indiana. Whether serving as the training site for Olympic hopefuls or hosting Olympic NGB events, Sports Indiana communities and facilities have been vital to the success of Team USA.
Bloomington
As the home of Indiana University, Bloomington is a breeding ground for top competition. The Counsilman Billingley Aquatic Center is the training site for the school’s fantastic swimming and diving programs and has seen athletes like Zach Apple, Michael Brinegar, Lilly King, Vini Lanza, Annie Lazor, Cody Miller, Blake Pieroni, Andrew Capobianco, Amy Cozad Magana, Jessica Parratto and Michael Hixon come through its doors. Diver Ian Finnerty is a Bloomington native. The Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex hosted the 2018 USATF Junior Outdoor Championships and has trained 1,500-meter runner Andy Beyer and reigning Olympic high jump champion Derek Drouin.
EvansVille
Perhaps no woman has been as dominant a swimmer this century than Evansville native and IU product Lilly King, and she’s still just 22 years old. King could be the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic golds in the 100-meter breaststroke if everything goes her way in Tokyo, and followed up her impressive feats in 2016 by winning four gold medals with four world records at the 2017 World Championships. Evansville is also home to the Burdette Park BMX, which hosted the 2019 USA BMX North Central Gold Cup Championship. As one of the top-rated and fastest BMX tracks in the nation, Burdette Park BMX hosts local racing from April to October, as well as top quality regional and national races.
Fort Wayne
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee is one of just four National Olympic Committees in the world that also serves as the National Paralympic Committee for their country. Fort Wayne leads the way in Indiana, as well as the region, as a hub for adaptive sports.
The Turnstone Center for Children & Adults with Disabilities is the home to both the USA Goalball Men’s and Women’s teams. The facility was the home site for the 2018 Adaptive Sports USA Junior Nationals, as well as the 2019 IBSA Goalball & Judo International Qualifier.
Hamilton County
Hamilton County is a hotbed for sports action, with tremendous facilities and terrific athletes. Carmel native and 2018 National High School Swimmer of the Year Drew Kibler finished third in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2019 NCAA Division I Championships while competing for the University of Texas.
Carmel native Amy Bilquist was part of three NCAA-winning relay teams 2019 while competing for the University of California, Berkeley. Soccer player Cam Lindley plays for Orlando City and has represented the U.S. internationally at various youth levels. Hamilton County is also the home of the Grand Park Sports Campus, which is a prime tournament destination in the Midwest, as well as one of the country’s finest multipurpose facilities. Grand Park hosted the 2018 U.S. National Target Championships.
Indianapolis
As the home to USA Gymnastics, USA Track and Field, and USA Diving, Indianapolis is naturally home to some top-notch facilities. The city will host the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Diving at the Indiana University Natatorium, which has also hosted the 2019 USA Diving Senior Nationals, the 2019 USA Swimming Speedo Sectionals and will host the 2020 TYR Pro Swim Series. The Indiana Convention Center hosted both the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships and the 2019 USA Gymnastics Women’s Junior Olympic National Championships in 2019.
The Major Taylor Velodrome, named for the eponymous 1899 cycling champion, is home to the Marian University cycling team, while Olympic hopefuls like Chloe Dygert Owen and Coryn Rivera, who has won 72 national titles and rides professionally for Team Sunweb. Indianapolis additionally is the hometown of some of the state’s premier athletes, including 11-year NBA pro Eric Gordon, NCAA 1-meter diving champion Sarah Bacon and pommel horse specialist and 2014 Youth Olympics bronze medalist Alec Yoder.
Lafayette
As the home of Purdue University athletics, Lafayette is home to the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center, which has—through the years—trained the likes of Kaersten Meitz, who won two gold medals at the World University Games, while her time of 4:05.80 in the 400-meter freestyle ranked third in the U.S. in 2019. Four-time Olympic diving medalist David Boudia won an Olympic silver medal with Steele Johnson in 2016 in 10-meter synchro. Diver Brandon Loschiavo placed eighth at Worlds in 2019. The Rankin Track & Field Complex is home to Purdue’s track and field programs and has trained the likes of Chuk Enekwechi, a gold medalist at the African Championships, as well as Kara Winger, the American record holder in the javelin throw, and Waseem Williams, whose 10.01 100-meter dash time in 2019 is the fastest in Big Ten history.
Holloway Gymnasium is home to Purdue volleyball and has nurtured the game of Annie Drews, who plays opposite for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, as well as professionally in Italy. Mackey Arena comes to life for Purdue basketball games and once housed Valparaiso-born Robbie Hummel, who played parts of two seasons in the NBA and has become a top 3×3 player for USA Basketball.
South Bend-Mishawaka
Home to the University of Notre Dame, South Bend has a plethora of fine facilities, including the Loftus Sports Center and Notre Dame Track & Field Stadium, which features a Mondotrack and a turf field. Notre Dame grad Molly Huddle is an Indiana track legend, winning 28 national titles on the track and road.
The Castellan Family Fencing Center is home to Fighting Irish fencing and trained standout Courtney Hurley, who took home a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games as part of the first U.S. Women’s Épée team to ever medal. Fellow Fighting Irish grad and foil fencer Lee Kiefer won nine straight gold medals at the Pan American Games from 2010 through 2018. American sabre fencer Mariel Zagunis is a five-time world champion.
The university’s Compton Family Ice Arena is a fantastic venue for any event that needs to be played on skates, as well as for curling. The arena was the home site for the 2017 USA Curling Arena National Championship, as well as the 2019 USA Hockey 14U Tier II National Championship. Mishawaka native Bethany Galat won silver medals at the 2017 and 2018 World Championships in the 200 meter breaststroke, as well as the 2019 Pan American Games.
