Double Olympic champion Becky Adlington<\/strong> has described as “awful” the news that Ponds Forge will remain closed indefinitely.<\/p>\n

Max Litchfield<\/strong>, the double European IM medallist who trained there between leaving Doncaster DARTES and moving to Loughborough, said it was “devastating news”.<\/p>\n

So too Leon Taylor<\/strong>, who was based there for several years, winning 10m synchro silver with Pete Waterfield<\/strong> at Athens 2004.<\/p>\n

Jo Jackson<\/strong>, Liam Tancock<\/strong> and Karoly Guttler<\/strong> are among swimmers to have set world records at the pool in Sheffield, Yorkshire, which has also played host to Olympic and world trials, the City of Sheffield and Sheffield City clubs, diving competitions encompassing elite to grassroots and numerous learn-to-swim and community programmes.<\/p>\n

Masters clubs. County championships. Aquarobics. Age groups. Young and old. The venue has hosted them all.<\/p>\n

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Franziska Van Almsick<\/p><\/div>\n
It staged the 1993 European Championships where 15-year-old Franziska van Almsick<\/strong> won seven medals – six of them gold – and Kristina Egerszegi<\/strong> mesmerised en-route to four titles, all in individual events.<\/p>\n
Guttler lowered the 100m breaststroke world record to 1:00.95 while Alex Popov<\/strong> won four golds, including the 50 and 100 free double.<\/p>\n
Sprint freestyle specialist Mark Foster<\/strong> was among five men to set global standards at the continental short-course showpiece in 1998, with 21.31 in the 50 free.<\/p>\n
Two world records were set by women including Sandra Volker<\/strong>‘s 27.27 in the 50 back.<\/p>\n
Tancock stopped the clock at 24.47 in the 50 back at the 2008 Olympic trials a year before Jackson lowered Federica Pellegrini’<\/strong>s 400 free standard to 4:00.66.<\/p>\n
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Liam Tancock: Photo Courtesy: Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports<\/p><\/div>\n
It stands minutes away from the Wybourn estate where British head coach and guide to Adlington, Bill Furniss<\/strong> grew up.<\/p>\n
It is impossible to mention everything to which the pool bore witness. Dreams realised and dashed, the highs and lows of sport, the momentary shudder of the cold water after diving in. The heat in the stands.<\/p>\n
But on Wednesday it was announced that the venue would remain closed for the foreseeable future with 300 jobs at risk across the Sheffield City Trust which manages 13 fitness and leisure venues across the city region.<\/p>\n
Adlington, who qualified there for her first Olympics in 2008 before going on to win double gold in Beijing, posted on social media:<\/p>\n
“This is so sad!!!! I have a lifetime of memories from that pool. Awful for all the athletes and staff that train there. It\u2019s such a huge part of the swimming community.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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This is so sad!!!! I have a lifetime of memories from that pool. Awful for all the athletes and staff that train there. It\u2019s such a huge part of the swimming community. https:\/\/t.co\/f9Wrbm3jm0<\/a><\/p>\n
— Becky Adlington (@BeckAdlington) August 12, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n