United States Olympic Training Center facts for kids
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Centers (OPTCs) are special places where top athletes train for the Olympics and Paralympics. These centers were created by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). They help athletes get ready for big competitions.
There are two main OPTCs: one in Colorado Springs, Colorado and another in Lake Placid, New York. There used to be a third one in Chula Vista, California, but it is now called the Elite Athlete Training Center. The USOPC also has other training spots across the country.
Some athletes live at these centers for months or even years while they train. Others visit for shorter periods with their teams. They get coaching, learn about sports science and sports psychology, and do physical tests. Even teams from other countries can train here!
The USOPTCs are the only Olympic training places in the world that are open for people to visit. You can take tours and see where the athletes prepare.
Colorado Springs Training Center
The Colorado Springs OPTC was the first training center built. It has been the main home for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee since 1978. This location was chosen because it is high up in the mountains. Training at a high elevation can help athletes get stronger and faster.
The center has many great facilities. There is a large Olympic-size swimming pool and an indoor shooting range. It also has the Olympic Training Center Velodrome, which is a special track for bicycle racing. There are two sports centers with many gyms and weight rooms. A sports science lab helps athletes improve their performance. The center also has places for athletes to live and eat, a visitors' center, and offices for the USOPC. Each year, the center hosts the Warrior Games competition for injured service members.
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Lake Placid Training Center
The Lake Placid OPTC opened in November 1982. This was two years after the city hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics. This center is a main training spot for winter sports.
Athletes in sports like bobsled, skeleton, luge, freestyle skiing, and biathlon live and train here. Other athletes also come to train often. These include those in boxing, canoe and kayak, judo, rowing, synchronized swimming, taekwondo, team handball, water polo, and wrestling.
Chula Vista Training Center
There was once a third OPTC in Chula Vista, California. This center is about 7 miles (11 km) south of San Diego. It is where the U.S. national rugby sevens team trains.
Since January 2017, the City of Chula Vista owns this training center. It is now called the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. The USOPC still helps fund programs for athletes at this center.
The campus is very large, covering 150 acres. It has places to train for eight Olympic sports. These include archery, canoe/kayak, cycling, field hockey, rowing, soccer, softball, and track & field. The center first opened in June 1995. Over the years, more facilities were added, like beach volleyball courts and a BMX track.
The Chula Vista center also hosts the yearly SoCal Showdown. This is a big archery tournament. Archers from all over the country come to compete for several days.
