East London schoolchildren were among those celebrating a landmark moment at the London Aquatics Centre last week, as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venue recorded its 10 millionth visit since opening to the public.
Year 4 pupils from Handsworth Primary School in Waltham Forest - one of the four Olympic legacy growth boroughs - were invited to mark the occasion, with around 60 children forming a giant "10M" on the venue's moveable diving pool floor for a commemorative photograph.
The youngsters were also treated to a tour of the centre and watched members of the Team GB diving squad train before jumping in themselves for a Fun and Floats session - a snapshot of a venue that serves everyone from elite athletes to children taking their first strokes.
Many Handsworth pupils already attend the centre regularly for swimming and diving lessons, while year 6 pupils from the school have previously made educational trips to learn about the building's Olympic history.
Nine-year-old Harry Snape said it was a day to remember. "Today was the best day. I got to show all my friends where I go to swimming and diving lessons. The GB divers are cool - I even got Kyle Kothari’s autograph."
Year 4 teacher Mr Rogers added: "It was great to see the children really enjoy themselves while getting to be active. We hope to do many more trips here and encourage the children to keep active."
The actual 10 millionth visitor was Alex Soloman, from Walthamstow, who uses the centre's gym and swimming pool and is working to improve his swimming. Alex was presented with an annual membership to mark the occasion. "The centre is such a great place to be active," he said. "To have had 10 million customers through the centre is a real achievement and I feel grateful to be a part of the celebrations."
London Aquatics Centre at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is operated by Everyone Active in partnership with London Legacy Development Corporation. Everyone Active took over management of the venue in April 2024, having first opened to the public in 2014 - two years after it was built as the showpiece venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Chris Wells, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "Reaching 10 million visits shows just how important the London Aquatics Centre has become for people across East London. On the day we had a group of schoolchildren including a nine-year-old who swims here every week, a local Walthamstow resident using the gym, and Olympic-level GB divers training in the same building - that really captures the range of people this venue brings together.
“It serves everyone, from grassroots community use right through to elite sport, and seeing local pupils here celebrating really highlights how the venue continues to inspire the next generation."
Mark Camley, Executive Director of Estate and Neighbourhoods, added: “10 million visits at London Aquatics Centre is a fantastic milestone and shows the crucial role the venue plays in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Nearly 14 years on from the London 2012 Games, it’s inspiring to see the venue continuing to bring local people together and we hope it continues to inspire even more people from local communities to get active and feel that this world-class venue truly belongs to them.”