Keating Natatorium
Charles H. Keating Sr. Natatorium (commonly known as Keating Natatorium) is an indoor swimming venue on the campus of St. Xavier High School in the Finneytown neighborhood of Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, just outside Cincinnati. It is operated by the Cincinnati Marlins, a non-profit swim team affiliated with USA Swimming. The facility serves as the Marlins' headquarters and central region training facility. It is also the home training base of the St. Xavier Aquabombers swimming and diving, triathlon, and water polo teams. Together, the teams have included 16 future Olympic swimmers.[3]
 The Keating Natatorium pool in 2008. | |
| Full name | Charles H. Keating Sr. Natatorium |
|---|---|
| Address | 600 W. North Bend Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio United States |
| Location | Finneytown, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 39°12′34″N 84°30′18″W |
| Owner | St. Xavier High School |
| Operator | Cincinnati Marlins |
| Capacity | 626[1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1969 |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Renovated | 2004, 2021 |
| Construction cost | $600,000[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Cincinnati Marlins, St. Xavier Aquabombers | |
Facility
Keating Natatorium features a 50-metre-long (160 ft), eight-lane swimming pool. A removable "bulkhead" allows for easy conversion between short and long courses. The facility also includes seating for 626 spectators, locker rooms, and administrative offices.[1][4]
History
The St. Xavier Aquabombers and Cincinnati Marlins originally trained at other area high schools' pools. In March 1969, Marlins leaders Charles H. Keating Jr. and William J. Keating decided to build an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool on the grounds of their alma mater, St. Xavier. The Keating brothers donated $600,000 (equivalent to $4.27 million in 2021) to St. Xavier, which named the new facility after their father, Charles Sr. Before construction finished, the first meets were held outdoors under bare building frames. The natatorium officially opened in 1970.[2][4]
In 1998, a major expansion of the high school building connected it to the natatorium. In 2004, additional seating and a video scoreboard were installed.[5] From March to August 2021, Keating Natatorium underwent a $5.5 million renovation.[6][3]
Events
Keating Natatorium hosted the AAU Indoor National Swimming Championships in 1970 and 1975.[7][8] It has also hosted major college events and high school invitationals. During postseasons, it hosts Greater Catholic League championships and Ohio High School Athletic Association sectional tournaments.[6]
References
- Ernst, Ryan (July 24, 2010). "Keating Natatorium is a jewel of a pool". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C14. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
- Grevers, Annie (September 2017). "Poise and Consistency in the Long Blue Lane". Swimming World. Vol. 58, no. 9. pp. 26–28. ISSN 0039-7431 – via MasterFILE.
- Dyer, Mike (August 6, 2021). "Keating Natatorium is nearing completion this month of a $5.5 million renovation". Cincinnati: WCPO-TV. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- Fairley, Kim (2022). Swimming for My Life: A Memoir. Berkeley, California: She Writes Press. pp. 80–81. ISBN 978-1-64742-256-1 – via Google Books.
- Murtha, Lisa (June 2012). "Hall Pass". Cincinnati. Vol. 45, no. 9. p. 69 – via MasterFILE.
- Dyer, Mike (January 14, 2021). "St. Xavier High School's Keating Natatorium is set to receive a $5.5 million renovation". Cincinnati: WCPO-TV. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- Dressman, Danny (March 22, 1970). "For '72 Olympics AAU Swim Meet Might Be A Prelude". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
Mexico City '68 and Munich '72: that could well be the theme of the 1970 AAU Indoor National Swimming Championships which will be held April 9–12 at the new Keating Natatorium on the St. Xavier High School campus.
- Fuselier, David (April 11, 1975). "Hargitay Has Hall Share A Big Moment". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 39.
And so it happened that Hargitay mounted the winner's stand Thursday at the Keating Natatorium and happily accepted from Gary Hall the award and then his hand.