Carmel first stop for Swimming World Cup North American tour

The REPORTER

After producing world-class talent for decades, Carmel will get a chance to host world-class talent this fall.

The Carmel High School aquatic center will be the first of three stops on the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 North American tour.

Each stop will feature three days of action-packed short-course (25-meter) racing, bringing additional high-intensity competition to the global swimming calendar.

Carmel will host the tour Oct. 10 to 12. The next two stops are in Westmont, Ill. Oct. 17 to 19, and in Toronto Oct. 23 to 25.

The Indianapolis area has hosted 11 previous World Aquatics events, including the Swimming World Cup 2022 final, the 2019 Champions Series, the 2017 World Junior Swimming Championships, and the 2004 World Swimming Championships (25-meter) at what was then Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.

For more than 50 years, Carmel has been a hub for swimming excellence, producing world-class athletes through a strong community-driven program. Three Team USA Olympians from the Paris 2024 Games hail from Carmel: Drew Kibler, and siblings Aaron and Alex Shackell.

Carmel’s first Olympic swimmer, Drew Kibler, made history as the city’s first World Championships medalist and champion. At Paris 2024, he earned Carmel’s first Olympic swimming medal with silver in the men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay.

Alex Shackell won gold in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay and silver in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, while her brother Aaron was the only U.S. swimmer to reach the final of the men’s 400-meter freestyle.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Aaron Shackell upon hearing the news of the Swimming World Cup coming to Carmel. “Swimming in Carmel – or Swim City, USA as we like to call it – is an amazing town to swimming. It’s super supportive of the sport. I’m sure there will be lots of fans and no town deserves it more.”

Added Alex Shackell: “It’s so cool to have a World Cup event not just in the U.S., but right here in my hometown of Carmel! I grew up training at Carmel Swim Club, so seeing some of the world’s best swimmers compete in this Carmel High School pool is really exciting. I know the local swimming community will bring tremendous energy, and I can’t wait to see everyone experience what makes this place so special.”

The first leg of the 2025 Swimming World Cup will take place at the Carmel High School Natatorium Complex, featuring a newly built 50-meter competition pool with high-performance filtration and recessed gutters—one of the fastest pools in the United States. The facility also includes spectator seating, an additional 50-meter training pool, and a hydrotherapy area.

“Hosting the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup at Carmel High School’s new natatorium is a tremendous opportunity for Hamilton County,” said Hamilton County Sports Authority Director Carl Daniels. “This state-of-the-art facility showcases Carmel’s commitment to excellence in swimming and provides an outstanding venue for international competition. We’re proud to partner with Carmel Swim Club to bring this prestigious event to our community.”

More than 750 athletes from over 50 nations will compete for a share of the $1.2 million prize pool. The popular World Record bonus of $10,000 and the coveted Crown bonuses will again reward standout performances.

Last season, athletes capitalized on this opportunity, breaking eight World Records and claiming 18 crowns, contributing to a total prize payout of $1.46 million.

Two of the biggest winners were Kate Douglass of the USA and Leon Marchand of France – the women’s and men’s overall Swimming World Cup titlists from 2024.

“Competing on the Swimming World Cup tour was the perfect way to close out my 2024 season,” said Marchand, the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Male Athlete of the Year. “Racing across three cities in front of passionate crowds kept the excitement going after the Paris Olympics, and coming out on top in an overall title race made it even more special. The competition level and atmosphere when you’re on the Swimming World Cup tour are incredible!”

UPCX Breakout Male Swimmer of the Year Noe Ponti of Switzerland also capitalized on competing on the 2024 Swimming World Cup tour, using it as a springboard for winning three World titles in the 25-meter pool later that year in Budapest, Hungary.

“Racing on the Swimming World Cup tour supercharged my 2024 season—it was the best and most rewarding of my career. Competing in three cities over three weeks was both thrilling and intense, preparing me perfectly for the World Swimming Championships (25-meter), where I experienced breakthrough after breakthrough,” said Ponti. “I’m coming out of this season with even more confidence and can’t wait to carry that momentum forward. See you at this year’s Swimming World Cup!