For the first time ever, the TYR Pro Swim Series will take place in Knoxville.
The series, which is 3.5 days long, consists of six stops across the country from January through November. It kicks off in the afternoon on Wednesday, Jan. 9 and goes through Saturday, Jan. 12.
It will take place at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on the University of Tennessee campus.
Traditionally, the event is televised on NBC Sports Network, the Olympic Channel, as well as live streamed on usaswimming.org.
Each stop attracts between 400 and 600 of the world’s top swimmers including, USA Swimming National Team members, Junior National Team members and top 50 world ranked swimmers, according to a USA Swimming release.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the TYR Pro Swim Series to Knoxville for the first time ever,” USA Swimming President & CEO Tim Hinchey said. “The bid group’s excitement was palpable, and we know both the local organizing committee and the city will provide first-class service for our athletes and fans.”
Knoxville has hosted a number of high-profile sporting events including the USA Cycling Pro Road & Time Trials National Championships, USA Diving AT&T National Championships, SEC Swimming and Diving Championships, REV3 Triathlon and University of Tennessee athletic events. The third-largest city in the state of Tennessee is also home to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
The 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series marked the first time USA Swimming selected its events via a request for proposal and bid process, according to a USA Swimming news release.
Swimmers may earn awards for top-three finishes in all individual Olympic events. At each meet, $1,500 will be provided for a first-place finish, $1,000 for second and $500 for third, Swimming World Magazine said. The athlete (one per gender) who has the highest scoring prelim swim, in Olympic events only, based on FINA power points, at each TYR Pro Swim Series Meet, will win an additional $1,500.
At the conclusion of the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series, the eligible athlete (male and female) who has the highest scoring swim in an individual Olympic event (based on FINA long course power points), at any of the TYR Pro Swim Series, will win a one-year lease of a BMW vehicle.
Other stops include Des Moines, Iowa; Richmond, Virginia; Bloomington, Indiana; and Clovis, California.
Tickets for the individual TYR Pro Swim Series stops are on sale now.
