Emma pays tribute to Sweden's largest aquatic centre
Many people celebrated and felt a sense of pride when Sweden's largest aquatic centre was inaugurated in Linköping on 22 April, including swimming star Emma Magnusson. “It's a huge improvement for all visitors, and having a 50-meter indoor pool means a lot to those of us who train and compete in the sport”, she says, smiling.
Emma Magnusson is one of LASS's (Linköpings Allmänna Simsällskap - one of Sweden’s oldest swim clubs) most successful swimmers today. On her CV, the 25-year-old can boast a silver in the Swedish Swimming Championships in both the 200 and 800 meter freestyle, as well as a bronze in the 400 and 1,500 meter freestyle. She has also won several gold medals in team competition at the Swedish Swimming Championships.
Emma was born and raised in Linköping and has always trained in the old aquatic centre from the 1960s. Now it will be a completely different experience with the new Tinnerbäcksbadet – Sweden's largest and most modern aquatic centre.
“The old aquatic centre has been outdated for quite a few years, so there will be an incredibly big difference. And we have been hoping for a 50-meter indoor pool for a long time. There is an outdoor pool at Tinnis, but we can only use it during the summer. This creates completely different training conditions, to be able to turn laps between 50 and 25 meters all year round and with proper starting blocks everywhere. It is also great that we will be able to hold larger competitions”, says Emma.
Emma is a member of the LASS elite group with about 15 swimmers who train almost every day. She is also studying for a master's degree in energy, environment and management at Linköping University.
“Many other swimmers go to the US to combine their sport with university studies. But that's not really for me. I prefer to combine the two here at home instead. I enjoy being here in Linköping, with my coach Niklas Larsson and student life at the university”.
Emma is convinced that visitors who come to the new aquatic centre will be very impressed – regardless of whether they call the municipality home or drop in as tourists.
“It is very fresh and new, nice and super modern. A huge improvement regardless of whether you want to swim, have fun in the family pool with the water slides or kick back in the relaxation area”. There is something for swimmers of all ages”, emphasizes Emma.