Olympic swim trials won't be held as scheduled in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - The U.S. Olympic Swim Trials won't happen in Omaha as scheduled after the 2020 Olympics were postponed over concerns about the coronavirus.

"We will work with our athletes, coaches, teams and committees to shift our preparations, and schedule a calendar of events that properly readies our team for 2021," USA Swimming wrote in a tweet. "We will work closely with the USOPC on rescheduling the U.S. Olympic Team Trials... to best align with Olympic Games preparations as further details become known."

The swim trials were slated to be held at the CHI Health Center from June 21-28. Josh Todd of the Omaha Sports Commission says it's not guaranteed the rescheduled swim trials would be in Omaha in 2021.

"Nothing guaranteed at this point, all depends now on IOC’s new Olympic dates. We would work backwards from there but if the dates are favorable for Omaha, the Omaha Sports Commission and all our partners are committed to doing our best to accommodate swim trials in 2021."

"It would certainly be my wish and recommendation that the city of Omaha hosts in 2021 for the trials," said Brinker Harding, an Omaha city council member. "Omaha is like any place in the United States right now. We’re all taking our hits but we’re working to make sure those events happen in the future. It will take a herculean effort but we will do what it takes to have the trials here in 2021."

The swim trials represent the latest blow to the Omaha sports scene. The coronavirus has already wiped out the 2020 College World Series, the first two rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the rest of the Omaha Lancers season, and numerous high school and college seasons.

According to the Omaha World Herald, 2020 was going to be the fourth time Omaha hosted the swim trials. When they were here in 2016, the trials brought an economic impact of over $70 million.