EVENTS

Olympic Exhibitions

Since 1924 Indianapolis has hosted 18 Olympic exhibition events in 10 different sports. The 1980s saw an increase in these events with the city’s push to become recognized as the amateur sports capital of the world. In 1984 alone, Indianapolis hosted five different Olympic team trials, more than any other city in the United States.

Five men and five women pose for a group portrait. They are all wearing ice skates and standing on an ice rink.
Skaters chosen at the Olympic skating trials in Indianapolis of the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway. Credit: Indiana Historical Society View Source

Records Set in Indianapolis Olympic Trials

DateEventVenue
June 5–7, 1924Swimming & DivingBroad Ripple Pool
December 21–22, 1951Ice SkatingFairgrounds Coliseum
July 4–6, 1952Swimming & DivingBroad Ripple Pool
April 24–27, 1984Synchronized SwimmingNatatorium
June 24–27, 1984 SwimmingNatatorium
July 4–8, 1984DivingNatatorium
July 9, 1984Women’s BasketballHoosier Dome
July 9, 1984Men’s BasketballHoosier Dome
April 18–23, 1988Synchronized SwimmingNatatorium
May 25, 1988Men’s SoccerKuntz Stadium
June 9–12, 1988Canoe/KayakEagle Creek Park
June 22–26, 1988RowingEagle Creek Park
July 15–23, 1988 Track & FieldIU Track Stadium, IUPUI
August 10, 1988BaseballBush Stadium
August 17–21, 1988DivingNatatorium
March 1–6, 1992 SwimmingNatatorium
June 17–21, 1992DivingNatatorium
June 26–28, 1992RowingEagle Creek Park

Records

1924Johnny Weismuller, Olympic, 100-yd freestyle (59.4 sec); World, 50-yd freestyle (25.2 sec)
1952Gail Peters, American, 200-yd breaststroke (3:02.6 min); Evelyn Kawamoto, American, 400-yd freestyle (5:17.4 min)
1988Jackie Joyner-Kersee, World, Heptathlon, 7,215 pts; Florence Griffith-Joyner, World, 100 meters (10:49 sec)

*Note: This entry is from the original print edition of the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (1994). We are currently seeking an individual with knowledge of this topic to update this entry.

DOUGLAS T. WILSON (1994), WILLIAM D. DALTON (1994)
Revised January 1994
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