This dream of a pool became reality by spring 1958. The pool 165 feet by 60 feet - 3 feet deep to 16 feet under the full International diving stage. with four spotlights. Room for 1,722 spectators under a single span roof of 139 feet and...6 inches!
During the Empire Games the door opened to:THREE Golds TWO Silvers
FOUR Bronzes from these boards for ENGLAND, and not forgetting
ONE Gold for Scotland! The spotlight was set on this fine International Golden squad for England and Scotland.
Brian Phelps and Ann Long in the Silver Squad for England, and David Tarsey, Ray Cann, Elizabeth Ferris and Molly Weiland in the Bronze Squad for England!
Swimmers splashed their way towards TWO individual swimming Golds - Anita Lonsborough and Judy Grinham; THREE swimming Silvers - J.I. Dyson and G.H. Symonds and Margaret Edwards and TWO swimming Bronzes - Chris Walkden and Christine Gosden. TWO relays battled for TWO Bronzes. Ian Black secured a Gold for Scotland. Cardiff’s Empire Pool was sure in the fast lane!
A famous diving National event was introduced in the 50’s - the “Empire Pool Diving Trophy” The pool saw the birth of many future Olympic and International representatives - including Wales’s Bobby Morgan, literally pipped at the post in Sheffield, by a whisker of .03 points which lost him a deserved European Highboard title.
Wales are very proud of their other National Sport. Rugby. The new Cardiff Millennium
Stadium was built, but it dangerously nudged the Wales Empire Pool. The massive following of the sport of Rugby necessitated more car parking space and the life of this pool became threatened.
