500 swimmers from around the world compete at 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series in Westmont

More than 500 of the best swimmers from around the United States and 27 foreign countries competed from April 12-15 at the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont

This third stop of four in the USA Swimming-sanctioned series was held at the FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park in Westmont, Illinois.

Some of the biggest names in swimming participated, including Bobby Finke, Ryan Murphy, Lydia Jacoby, Lilly King, and Simone Manuel.

Competition proved fierce over the event's four days, with notable wins and even new records.

Regan Smith, age 21, finished with the fastest performance ever on American soil in the 200-meter backstroke breaking the U.S. Open and Pro Swim Series record; and additionally broke the Pro Swim Series record in the 100-meter backstroke.

French swimmer Léon Marchand broke the 200 IM Pro Swim Series record established by Michael Phelps in 2012 with a time of 1:55.68.

Hungarian swimmer Hubert Kós swam the two fastest 200-meter backstroke times in the world this year.

"It's not every day an event of this caliber comes to town," said DuPage Sports Commission Director of Sports Igor Bakovic. "Congratulations to all the athletes on your performances and on behalf of the fans, you were amazing to watch. The whole event was incredible, from the autograph experience, to the competition, to the many languages spoken on deck - TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont was a world-class event right here in DuPage County."

With 512 swimmers registered to compete, this was the largest attendance by athletes at a TYR Pro Swim Series event this year.

Athletes came from around the world, with swimmers from Egypt, Israel, Croatia, Chile, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil, Singapore, Zimbabwe, Cypress, Mexico, Estonia, Uruguay, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Germany to name a few. Athletes swam in front of a sold-out crowd on Friday and Saturday.

According to Bakovic, early numbers indicate the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont delivered $1.3 million in economic impact to the area, with a daily average of approximately 1,800 visitors spending money on transportation, hotels, dining, and entertainment.

"The host staff, coaches and officials, the volunteers, athletes and fans - what an event for our swimming community," said USA Swimming Chief Commercial Officer Shana Ferguson. "We're grateful for tremendous partners in the DuPage Sports Commission and the FMC Natatorium. The energy and excitement were contagious and contributed to some outstanding performances in the water."

The final stop in the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series will take place in Mission Viejo, California from May 17-20, 2023.

The TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont was a fast-paced, nationally televised and streamed event requiring management of many moving parts. Preparation began weeks prior to the event date,

with USA Swimming, DuPage Sports Commission, and FMC Natatorium working to ensure production of a seamless, premier event. "There are many people to acknowledge," Bakovic said. "I'd like to especially thank USA Swimming's national event staff, their marketing and athlete marketing teams, communications team, and their partners. To our very own FMC team, thank you for your continued partnership in hosting impactful events that bring excitement and pride to Westmont and greater DuPage community."

DuPage County has become a consistent presence in the sports market, with the DuPage Sports Commission having secured and hosted 34 major sporting events in 2022 alone. Among the list are high-caliber national championships hosted in DuPage for the first time, delivering national and international coverage.

In addition to the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series Westmont, DuPage's 2023 calendar already included the USA Artistic Swimming U.S. Collegiate Championship in March, with an impressive list of golf, soccer, lacrosse, hockey and more coming to DuPage in the next few weeks.

Created by the nonprofit organization DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau, the DuPage Sports Commission (DSC) was founded in 2019 to harness the power of sports tourism on behalf of the county's 38 communities and one million residents. For more information, visit www.DuPageSportsCommission.com.