Olympic medallists Ben Proud and Dan Goodfellow welcomed 2,800 visitors to their training ground on Sunday as the London Aquatics Centre threw open its doors for a free community celebration marking its first anniversary under Everyone Active’s management.
The iconic Olympic venue, which serves as the daily training facility for some of Britain’s top aquatic athletes, was transformed into a hive of activity as visitors took full advantage of the opportunity to experience world-class facilities alongside sporting heroes.
Proud, who claimed silver in the men’s 50m freestyle at the Paris Olympics last year, delivered a masterclass in competitive starts to aspiring young swimmers, offering rare insights into the techniques that have propelled him to international success.
Recently retired diving star Goodfellow joined the celebrations, meeting fans and participating in activities throughout the facility. The 28-year-old Olympic bronze medallist, who announced his retirement in January after a career that saw him medal at every major competition including bronze alongside Tom Daley at Rio 2016, delighted visitors with his presence at the venue where he honed his skills.
For 11-year-old aspiring diver Lucia Chowne, who trains at the Aquatics Centre every Sunday, the opportunity to meet Olympic athletes was particularly meaningful. “It’s really inspiring,” she said. “They’ve been to the Olympics and I hope to go one day – it was amazing meeting them!”
The March 9 celebration saw visitors enjoying free access to the 50-metre Olympic pools and specialised dive pool. From scuba diving sessions to artistic swimming demonstrations and the towering “Atlantis” inflatable obstacle course, the centre buzzed with excitement from opening until close.
Everyone Active has driven remarkable growth at the facility since beginning managing the contract in March 2024, which it manages in partnership with London Legacy Development Corporation.
The centre has attracted one million visitors over the past year while helping 17,988 local schoolchildren develop crucial swimming skills. Beyond physical activity, the venue has generated £1.6 million in social impact across the community.
Significant investments have revitalised the Olympic legacy venue, including new group exercise and spin studios alongside a completely refurbished gym.
Mark Basker, Everyone Active Regional Contract Manager, said:
“The incredible turnout on Sunday speaks volumes about this facility’s importance to our community.
In our first year managing this iconic Olympic venue, we’ve built upon its established foundation as a community asset while continuing to support both elite performance and grassroots participation.
The £1.6 million social impact we’ve generated isn’t just a number, it represents real change in people’s lives through increased access to world-class aquatics facilities. Seeing almost 18,000 children develop essential water safety skills is particularly rewarding, knowing these are potentially life-saving abilities they’ll carry forever.
With more elite events on the horizon, including next month’s Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, we’re proud to continue showcasing the London Aquatics Centre as a premier venue for both top-level competition and community participation.”
Since first opening to the public in 2014, the centre has successfully balanced its dual role as both elite training ground and community leisure destination. Under Everyone Active’s management, this vision of creating lasting Olympic legacy benefits continues to flourish.