USA Artistic Swimming Announces 2022 and 2023 Junior Olympics Locations

USA Artistic Swimming has announced that the 2022 Junior Olympic Championships will be held in Gainesville, Florida, with the 2023 event going to Hampton, Virginia. The Junior Olympic Championship averages about 1,100 athletes competing across a nine-day schedule.

The Junior Olympic Championships is the largest event organized by the national governing body.

The 2022 event will be staged June 25 to July 2 at the Stephen O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus. The facility boasts room for just over 1,000 spectators and the 50-meter pool is considered one of the fastest in the world. Known as home to the University of Florida, the city of Gainesville offers opportunities for biking, fishing, kayaking, golfing, tubing down freshwater springs and other outdoor activities. There is also a sprawling downtown area, home to several craft breweries and a bustling restaurant scene.

“The Gainesville Sports Commission is excited for the opportunity to host this elite nine-day event in our community,” said Joleen Cacciatore, executive director of the Gainesville Sports Commission. “We have had a strong partnership with USA Synchronized Swimming for many years and are excited to have them back in Alachua County hosting their largest championship event, the Junior Olympics. We cannot wait to welcome the participants and families to Gainesville and Alachua County next summer and showcase what our community has to offer.”

The 2023 host site will be a new facility breaking ground this week. The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex will be a $29.5 million, 67,000-square-foot aquatics center with an eight-lane, 50-meter competition pool, two moveable bulkheads, spectator seating for 1,500 with a mezzanine, on-deck athlete seating for 760 and an outdoor splash park. In addition access to beaches, the city offers a rich history and entertainment options as well as extensive coastal cuisine options.

“The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex is thrilled to serve as host of the 2023 USA Artistic Swimming Junior Olympic Championship,” said Mary Fugere, Director of the Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau. “We are proud to announce this national competition as the first on the books for this sparkling new aquatic venue that will be the largest in Virginia when it opens. We look forward to showcasing Coastal Virginia’s attractions, shopping and dining to participants and their families during the eight-day event.”