Tupelo Opens New Aquatic Center

By Chad Groening

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A two-time Olympic Gold medal winner says Tupelo’s new aquatic center is better than those found in many bigger cities.

Peter Vanderkaay was on hand for Saturday’s official grand opening of the $12 million facility in Veterans Memorial Park.

Vanderkaay won Gold Medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and won a bronze in last year’s London Games.

The Michigan native says he trained in a facility very much like this.

“They renovated and built a facility similar to this and I was able to train there through high school and I think it really made a difference in my development going to the Olympics and beyond, it’s something great for the community at any level,” he said.

Vanderkaay has already inspired some Tupelo swimmers.

The Tupelo Christian Preparatory School team was on hand, as well as the Shockwave aquatics.