Olympic swimming pool size: all you need to know

Olympic swimming pool size: what do the rules say?

The main regulatory body that establishes the standard Olympic swimming pool size and the rest of the specific features of competition pools is the World Aquatics federation (former FINA). As such, gathered in the World Aquatics Competition Regulations are all the necessary rules to ensure a uniform approach to international competition across the world.

These regulations don’t dictate what raw materials or products to use when building an Olympic-size swimming pool. However, there are specific rules around the geometry, size and dimensional tolerances, as well as details such as correct distribution of elements, color of pool equipment etc.

Compliance with these regulations means these parameters must be certified by a surveyor or other qualified official, appointed or approved by the Member of the Swimming Federation from the country where the pool is located.

Here’s a look at the most important rules when it comes to Olympic pool size:

1. Olympic swimming pool length: what length is an Olympic-size pool?

The length of an Olympic pool must be exactly 50 metres.

This means that, if there are automatic officiating equipment touch panels at the starting or turning end, then the length must ensure the required distance between the two panels is still 50 metres.

2. Dimensional tolerances

The dimensional tolerances allowed for Olympic swimming pools are +0.010, -0.000 metres when touch panels are used. Tolerances must be measured as follows:

• For swimming pools with touch panels on both ends, the distance between walls must be minimum 50.020 metres and maximum 50.030 metres;
• Tolerances must be consistent between 0.300 metres above and 0.800 metres below the water surface.

3. Olympic swimming pool width

For regular competitions there is no minimum or maximum. However, there are lane width parameters that must be met.

The Olympic Games and World Championships do have standard parameters that must be met, so that pool width must be 25 meters in permanent pools and 26 meters in temporary pools.

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4. Swimming pool depth

As a general rule, the World Aquatics federation states that an Olympic swimming pool with starting blocks must have a minimum depth of 1.35 metres extending from the first metre to 6.0 metres from the end wall.

For the rest of the pool, a minimum depth of 1.0 metre is required.

For swimming pools where the Olympic Games and World Championships are held, Olympic pools must have a minimum depth of 2.50 metres. If it is also used as a multi-sport facility, it must be 3 meters deep.

5. Rules regarding pool walls

The pool’s end walls must be vertical, parallel, and form 90-degree right angles (0.3 degree tolerance) with the swimming lanes and water surface. Additionally, they must be made from a solid material with a non-slip finish extending 0.8 metres below the water surface to allow the swimmer to touch and push off safely when turning. The bathing step is optional. It must be at a minimum depth of 1.2 meters and measure between 10 and 15 centimeters wide.

Other olympic pool design aspects to consider

There are also other competition accessories that must comply with World Aquatics regulations in order to host official swimming competitions, including:

Lanes

• For general competitions there is no minimum number of lanes. The middle lanes must be 2.5 metres wide, while the outer lanes must be 2.4 metres wide. An outer space of 0.1 metres must also be maintained in the first and last lane.
• For pools hosting Olympic Games, the pool must have 8 lanes with a width of 2.50 metres and an outer space of 2.50 metres. In some exceptional cases, the pool can have 9 or 10 lanes.
• In permanent pools for World Championships there must be 10 lanes, of which 8 must be 2.50 metres wide. The outer lanes (0 and 9) must be 2.40 metres wide and have an outer space of 0.10 metres. In temporary pools, all 10 lanes must be 2.50 metres wide with a 0.50 metre outer space on the first and last lane.

Lane ropes

Used to separate swimming lanes and reducing waves in the pool, the World Aquatics federation establishes the following key rules surrounding lane ropes:

• For general competition pools, lane ropes’ diameter shall be 0.10 metres minimum and 0.15 metres maximum. For Olympic Games and World Championships the diameter shall always be 0.15 metres.
• Lane ropes should stretch across the entire length of the course.
• Components for wave reduction (such as the tension spring and take-up reel) should measure no more than 200 mm at each lane rope end.
• There are also specific rules regarding the colors of the lane ropes.

Starting platforms

• Starting platforms must be rigid with no spring.
• They must be positioned between 0.5 and 0.75 metres in height above the water surface, and measure at least 0.5 x 0.5 metres in surface area.
• They should be coated in a non-slip material.
• For Olympic Games and World Championships they shall have a surface area of 0.5 x 0.6 metres.
• They must form an angle of less than 10 degrees and shall not protrude from the pool wall.
• An adjustable heel may be integrated.
• Backstroke handles (side and front) must be between 0.3 and 0.6 metres above the water level.

Numbering, turn indicators, and other accessories

• Each starting platform must be clearly numbered on all four sides in a visible way.
• The timing touch panels shall be 2.40 x 0.90 x 0.01 metres and shall be positioned 0.3 metres above the water and 0.6 metres below.
• For backstroke turn indicators, flagged triangular ropes shall be hung along the length of the pool 1.8 metres above the water level and 5 metres from the end walls.
• False start ropes must be placed at a height of 1.2 metres and 15 metres from the end of the pool to alert athletes of an incorrect start.
• The lane ropes must be marked 15 metres from the pool wall.
• For Olympic Games and World Championships the use of a backstroke ledge with a minimum width of 65 cm is compulsory.

Water conditions

• Water temperature in Olympic pools must be between 25°C and 28°C, keeping a constant level throughout the competition without noticeable swings.
• Water cannot have currents or turbulence.
• In order to maintain the water level, preserve water transparency and take into account the health regulations in force in most countries, water inlets and outlets should be regulated between 220 to 250 m3/h for 50-metre pools.
• The World Aquatics federation limits water salinity to less than 3 gr/litre of salt for pools that wish to register World Records and Junior World Records.

Lighting

• For Olympic pools that host regular competitions, lights should have a minimum of 600 lux.
• For Olympic Games and World Championships, it should be a minimum of 1500 lux.

Lane markings

• The marking lines must be between 0.2 and 0.3 metres wide and placed in the centre of each lane in a dark, contrasting colour.
• In pools of 50 metres in length, they must be 46 metres long.
• The lane lines must end 2 metres from the wall and have a 1 metre long transverse line crossing it that is the same width as the lane line.
• A transverse mark must also be placed at 15 metres and in the middle of the pool.

Space optimization accessories

In addition to the competition related accessories above, there are a few extras that can be included to optimize the use of space, including:

Movable bulkheads

These accessories allow the pool to be split into different areas and sizes for independent and simultaneous uses. If present, they should consider the following requirements:

• When a bulkhead is used as an end wall, it must stretch the entire pool width and present a solid smooth vertical surface that is both stable and non-slip in order to install touch panels stretching at least 0.8 m below and 0.3 m above the water surface.
• There must be no precarious gaps above or below the water line that a swimmer’s hands, feet, toes, or fingers could go through.
• Bulkheads must be designed to allow officials to move freely along the pool length without creating any noticeable current or turbulence inside the water.

Movable floors

Another accessory for pool space optimization are movable floors, which allow pool depth to be changed in order to suit the different depth requirements of multiple sport activities.

How do Olympic pools get cleaned? Key water treatment considerations

The question of how to achieve pristine water for an Olympic pool in a way that’s both effective, efficient and sustainable should not be underestimated. As seen above, the same regulations that establish the standard Olympic swimming pool size also determine the required water conditions for competition pools.

Today, saltwater pools represent one of the most attractive trends in aquatic installations across the world. Capable of creating sanitized pools without the use of chlorine products, they use saline chlorination products to guarantee water hygiene.

This innovative solution incorporates three water treatment technologies in a single product, optimising sanitation and pH control in the most natural and efficient way possible by using Neolysis, which involves:

• Low salinity salt electrolysis for water sanitation
• Mid-pressure ultraviolet to reduce combined chloramines
• High-efficiency CO2 injections for pH regulation

On the other hand, for temporary pools in competition events, systems like the Nefrona solution offer a valuable alternative. This water treatment solution is a compact, modular and transportable plug-and-play solution for water pump and filter systems developed by AstralPool, especially designed for temporary events.

This solution includes disinfection, filtration and pumps for the recirculation system in the same monobloc, obtaining excellent water quality. Additionally, the filtering unit is mounted on a hot-dipped galvanized steel bed plate to prevent corrosion, and all models can be supplied with heating and microfiltration using diatomaceous earth.

You might be interested: Sport pools: an introduction to building and maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions about the Olympic swimming pool size

Is the Olympic pool 25 meters?

As per the World Aquatics federation, the official olympic swimming pool size is 50-meters long. Pools that are 25-meters long are considered “semi-Olympic pools”.

Is an Olympic pool 50 meters long?

Yes, the official Olympic swimming pool size is 50 meters, following The World Aquatics Competition Regulations.

What is a full-size swimming pool?

The answer to this question is that it depends on the type of swimming pool that is built and its purposes.

As seen across this article, competition pools often follow the World Aquatics rules, which establish the standard Olympic swimming pool size as being 50-meters long and 25-meters wide (which extends to 26 meters in temporary pools).

Aside from competition environments, there are other common measurements that can be applied to full-size swimming pools in recreational contexts.

What is a 25 m length pool?

A pool that is 25-meters long is a semi-Olympic pool, also known as a “short course” pool.

Keys to achieve the right Olympic swimming pool size and build a compliant and efficient competition pool

As seen above in this article, building an Olympic swimming pool for competition involves adhering to strict World Aquatics regulations, which go far beyond the standard Olympic swimming pool size.

As such, the process requires pool builders to be extremely careful in order to meet all requirements, while also adhering to potential regulations that apply to the country where the competition will take place.

Today, advancements in pool building technology have emerged as crucial allies in achieving Olympic swimming pools that adhere to requirements while also facilitating construction processes.

Such is the case of construction systems based on prefabricated modular steel panels, such as SKYPOOL technology. A state-of-the-art modular solution that allows for the fine structural adjustments that ensure compliance with the tolerance requirements mentioned above.

This advanced construction solution aligns with other cutting-edge technologies such as those dedicated to water treatment, generating synergies that allow for the creation of modern, efficient and sustainable Olympic swimming pools.

Aside from these technological aids, adhering to World Aquatics Competition Requirements involves the aid of swimming pool professionals that help design and build pools as well as accompany operators through the certification process.

Fluidra’s experience in helping with pool operators to meet official requirements and comply with World Aquatics certification processes establishes us as key allies for helping operators build the Olympic swimming pool they envision.