Gold medalists Nathan Adrian (Bremerton, Wash.), Natalie Coughlin (Vallejo, Calif.), Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) are among the more than 50 members of the USA Swimming National Team \u2013 and nearly 20 Olympic medalists \u2013 expected to highlight the field for the May 14-17 Arena Pro Swim Series (#ArenaProSwim) at Charlotte.<\/p>\n
The four-day meet serves as the fifth stop of the 2014-15 Arena Pro Swim Series \u2013 formerly known as the Arena Grand Prix Series \u2013 and will take place at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center.<\/p>\n
The meet opens with a timed-final distance session at 6 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 14. Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17, prelims will begin at 9 a.m. EDT, followed by finals at 6 p.m. EDT.<\/p>\n
Additional Olympic gold medalists excepted to swim in Charlotte include Tyler Clary (Riverside, Calif.), Anthony Ervin (Valencia, Calif.), Jessica Hardy (Long Beach, Calif.), Cullen Jones (Irvington, N.J.) and Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.), as well as current Arena Pro Swim Series leaders and Olympic medalists Elizabeth Beisel (Saunderstown, R.I.) and Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.).<\/p>\n
On the local front, meet host SwimMAC Carolina is expected to enter 50 swimmers in the meet, including Clary, Jones and Lochte.<\/p>\n
Universal Sports Network will air exclusive live television coverage of the meet Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 at 6 p.m. EDT with play-by-play announcer Craig Hummer and analyst Rowdy Gaines calling the action from Charlotte. Additionally, a webcast of the complete meet will be available at usaswimming.org.<\/p>\n
Tickets are required for each session, and all- and single-session tickets are on sale now. If quantities permit, single-session tickets will be for sale on-site at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center during the meet. Full meet information can be found at usaswimming.org.<\/p>\n
The Arena Pro Swim Series at Charlotte is the fifth of six stops of the 2014-15 Arena Pro Swim Series, which was formerly known as the Arena Grand Prix Series prior to a January 2015 rebranding announcement. The series provides the nation\u2019s best swimmers the opportunity to face top-flight competition on U.S. soil with twice the prize money as last season on the line.<\/p>\n
Beisel currently leads the women\u2019s Arena Pro Swim Series standings with 38.5 points, while Dwyer tops the men\u2019s standings with 53 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing the Arena Pro Swim Series name makes it immediately recognizable to fans and media that our sport\u2019s absolute best athletes are racing in the hometowns of swimmers and sports fans,\u201d said USA Swimming National Team Director Frank Busch. \u201cAt the same time, anyone who posts a qualifying time is eligible, just as it has been, so it creates a unique opportunity for high school and collegiate swimmers to challenge themselves against top competition. In many ways, it\u2019s like playing in the same game as LeBron James or a Tour event with Tiger Woods.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of USA Swimming\u2019s partnership with swimwear leader Arena, the Arena Pro Swim Series features $300,000 in overall prize money. Eligible swimmers may earn awards for top-three finishes in all individual Olympic events across the series. At each meet, $1,000 will be provided for a first-place finish, $600 for second and $200 for third. In addition to the single-event prize money, the overall male and female winners of the season-long Series will earn a $10,000 bonus.<\/p>\n
For the second consecutive season, USA Swimming partner BMW will award the grand prize of a one-year lease of a BMW ActiveHybrid 3 to the highest-scoring eligible male and female U.S. swimmers.<\/p>\n
Male and female overall Arena Pro Swim Series champions will be honored at the conclusion of the 2014-15 series based on the number of points accumulated throughout the six meets. Participants will be awarded points in each individual Olympic event throughout the duration of the Series (Five points for first, three for second, one point for third place).<\/p>\n
Complementing the professional athletes, high school and collegiate swimmers will be able challenge their abilities against top competition without compromising their NCAA eligibility. USA Swimming received approval from the NCAA for the Arena Pro Swim Series title.<\/p>\n