Image: Laura M. Hamel/U.S. Masters Swim
Fun in the Sun in Southern California
Summer Nationals returns to Mission Viejo
Have some fun in the sun this summer with the 2024 USMS Summer National Championship Aug. 21–24 in Mission Viejo, California.
The Marguerite Aquatic Complex will host its sixth USMS national championship. The facility drew 1,391 participants at its most recent Summer Nationals, in 2019, and a record 1,393 participants in 2013.
“Mission Viejo has a long association with national- and Olympic-level sports,” says Olympian Brian Goodell, Mission Viejo’s mayor. “We are particularly proud to be the home of the Nadadores swim and diving teams. Through their accomplishments, the Nadadores have brought acclaim to the city. We are honored to continue the tradition by welcoming Masters swimmers to the 2024 Summer Nationals.”
The outdoor venue features a 50-meter, eight-lane competition pool with 18-inch washout lanes on either side. There will be eight lanes of warm-up/cool-down space in the diving well and several more lanes available in a teaching pool.
Shaded bleacher seating for 2,000 spectators offers up-close views of races along the length of the competition course. There are also shaded athlete areas, temporary storage cubbies, wide deck space, and an artificial-turf stretching area.
The facility underwent a $12.8 million renovation in 2018 and a nearly $500,000 recent upgrade that included new bleachers.
“Your stay in Mission Viejo will be a great experience with our state-of-the-art aquatics center and Orange County activities,” says Mark Moore, the Mission Viejo Masters’ coach and the meet director.
Orange County beaches, which stretch for 42 miles along the Golden Coast, are always a big draw for swimmers. Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point are popular destinations to swim, surf, kayak, and paddleboard, and they’re less than a 40-minute drive from the pool.
The Summer Nationals meet social, the Friends and Family Fiesta night, will be at the Marguerite Tennis Pavilion, which is a short walk from the pool.
Competitors and their families can also savor tasty meals, go shopping, or take a trip to Disneyland while enjoying the beautiful weather Southern California is famous for.
Two nearby malls offer movies, shopping, dining, and more. The Shops at Mission Viejo features 150 stores and restaurants, including Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Apple. In addition to hosting several restaurants, Kaleidoscope Mall on the Crown Valley Parkway near I-5 offers a movie theater, gaming studio, and spa.
Your children won’t want to miss a visit to Disney California Adventure Park or Knott’s Berry Farm, which all deliver abundant family-friendly fun.
