Yale’s Kiphuth Exhibition Pool Holds a Special Place in Swimming Lore
In the center of Kiphuth Exhibition Pool stands a large, wooden desk.
It’s an odd place for such a device, a majestic wood design contrasting the deck’s sheer white tile. You could travel around the country and never see anything like it.
And yet, at the oldest pool in college swimming, the lectern fits right at home.
Kiphuth Exhibition Pool has stood in place for 93 years, designed by and named after legendary coach Robert Kiphuth.
“There’s so much history involved in the building,” said Yale head coach James Henry. “So many championships, so many American records.”
Decades later, the pool has stood the test of time. But how has it kept in shape? And how long will it last?
Imagined by a Legend
The legacy of Kiphuth Exhibition Pool starts with its namesake, who actually has a special connection to Swimming World. Kiphuth served as the company’s first editor and publisher back in 1960, helping build the magazine from the ground up.
Long before he contributed to our publication, however, he was one of the best coaches in college swimming history. Kiphuth finished with a 522-12 record at Yale, by far the best winning percentage in history. In addition to leading the program to four NCAA championships, he also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to the swimming world in 1963.
During his tenure, Kiphuth guided the careers of multiple stars, including Don Schollander, Jim McLane and Allen Stack, among others.
Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame
“He was a titan of the sport,” said alum Bert Hazlett, swim class of ‘83. “We knew him as both a great developer of people, and a coach way ahead of his time.”
Legend has it that Kiphuth’s success earned him influence on the construction of Payne-Whitney Gymnasium, the historic building in which the Exhibition Pool sits. The nine-story gymnasium stands as one of the most unique sports complexes in the world, including the pool located on its third floor.
“It’s a place that’s shown the test of time,” said Henry. “Our students love that building, and are very proud of it.”
Built for Speed
Kiphuth’s input allowed him to create a pool showcasing his vision for swimming. The Hall of Fame coach took it upon himself to create a unique atmosphere, one fitted to host some of the world’s fastest meets.
The Exhibition pool is surrounded by 2,187 wooden seats, making it one of the largest in college swimming. The seats, according to Yale’s website, were made at a 45-degree angle, in order to create “a perfect view.”
“So much thought and detail was put into it by Kiphuth on the ‘fan experience’” said Henry. “You can see everything perfectly.”
The pool’s ceiling also contributes to its unique nature. At 157-feet wide and 50-feet high, the echoes of the impassioned bulldog fanbase carry forcefully through the hall.
“The acoustics are incredible,” Henry said. “Because of the way the ceiling is built, the noise reverberates back and forth, so that it always feels packed.”
The atmosphere gives Yale one of the biggest rarities in the sport of college swimming: a home advantage.
“It’s fun to watch teams that haven’t been in there before, just arrive and look around,” said Henry. “(The pool) is magnificent.”
A Training Paradise
Just as Kiphuth Pool has provided the Bulldogs with a unique competitive advantage on meet days for years, the coach’s construction vision has also provided an edge when it comes to training.
Photo Courtesy:
Just a floor above the pool lies an indoor track, used often by the coach during his tenure for conditioning. Kiphuth was one of the first proponents of “dryland” training, encouraging his athletes to diversify their training to build endurance.
“He really was ahead of his time,” said Hazlett. “He used a system of weights, pulleys, and medicine balls, as well as the track upstairs to keep his swimmers conditioned.”
Coach Henry admitted the recent teams don’t quite do conditioning the same way. But the facilities still are helpful toward training in different capacities. Henry pointed to the pool’s lighting as particularly helpful to the team.
“We do a lot of filming,” he said. “And the lighting allows us to pick up a lot of clarity, in order to help us analyze swims.”
Even decades later, the pool still proves advantageous for the Bulldogs, in and out of the water.
Historic Grounds
With an atmosphere as unique as Kiphuth Exhibition pool, it’s no surprise that it’s had its share of historic moments. The pool hosted both the 1933 and 1964 NCAA Championships, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union (a USA Swimming predecessor) Championships in 1961. Hoards of records have been broken there, in epic fashion.
But what makes Kiphuth Exhibition Pool special isn’t just the grand accomplishments it’s featured. It’s the stories it tells. From impassioned team meetings, to fierce battles with Ivy League opponents, every alum had an anecdote of a great race to tell.
“Every kid who steps onto that pool deck is aware of its rich history,” said Matt Meade, class of ‘87. “It’s an honor and a privilege to step on that deck, and look at those banners.”
Meade emphasized, however, that the pool doesn’t just mean a lot to the Bulldogs. The alums described their pride in the team’s “Swim New Haven” events, which help teach swim lessons to members of the community.
“It’s so cool, just seeing kids walk into that pool initially terrified,” said Meade. “And then moments later, they’re laughing and smiling with our swimmers as they learn an important life skill.”
The pool’s usage beyond competitive swimming makes it an important asset. It’s a place that will leave a legacy of stories, outside of any pool or meet.
Next Steps
While it’s remarkable that Kiphuth Exhibition Pool has lasted this long, it’s obvious it can’t last forever. According to Henry, Yale has been searching for a new pool since the early 1990s, with the biggest issue obtaining funding. For the time being, Kiphuth’s reliability is more than enough for the Bulldogs’ coach.
“The amount of maintenance and work (the staff) puts into it to keep it running is awesome,” said Henry. “I can count on my facilities people. We rarely have to shut down.”
As for the new pool, Yale hopes to capture what may be impossible: the magic which Kiphuth has provided for nearly a century.
“We would want to try to recreate some of the design, which makes it a fan friendly venue, into the next pool,” said Henry. “It’s a place that truly is iconic.”
Got to go to many big meets(NCAA and AAU Nationals) at Payne-Whitney. Yale going 1-2-3 in the 200 Free at the 64 NCAA’s was the loudest I ever heard at a swim meet. When Steve Clark went 45.6 to set a new record, he stayed for an hour and a half after the meet finished making sure that everyone who wanted an autograph got one.
Walking around the hall under the stands and around the pool was filled with pictures of Swimming history. The first time coming out of the locker room into that pool was like entering a Cathedral. Because of the lighting when you sat on the deck you couldn’t see the fans but you felt their presence.
A very special place – you bet. Thanks for the article.
If I remembe correctly, there is also a 50m pool in the upper floors of Payne-Whitney Gymnasium? Rumor had it that the 50m pool was never drained because of the uncertainty of what would happen with the unwanted stress that removing that much weight might produce.