{{short description|Pool and sport hall in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Use British English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox venue |name = Ponds Forge |image = Ponds Forge International Sports Centre - geograph.org.uk - 7048837.jpg |image_size = 290 |caption = A view of Ponds Forge |fullname = Ponds Forge International Sports Centre |location = Sheffield, England |coordinates = {{coord|53|22|56|N|1|27|43|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |opened = May 1991 |owner = Sheffield City Council |operator = Everyone Active<ref name="OfficialSite">{{cite web|url=https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/ponds-forge-international-sports-centre|title=Ponds Forge International Sports Centre|accessdate=15 April 2026}}</ref> |public_transit = {{rint|tram}} {{RouteBox|B|South Yorkshire Supertram|#3283b9|white|bold=}}{{RouteBox|P|South Yorkshire Supertram|#b952a7|white|bold=}}{{RouteBox|Y|South Yorkshire Supertram|#fbba00|black|bold=}}{{RouteBox|TT|South Yorkshire Supertram|#030303|white|bold=}}<br>Fitzalan Square / Ponds Forge }}
'''Ponds Forge International Sports Centre''' is a multipurpose sports centre and leisure complex in Sheffield, England. The facility has a 2,600 seating capacity Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving pit, a leisure pool, a 10-court indoor sports hall, in addition to multiple gyms and fitness studios.
==History== Ponds Forge was opened in 1991 ahead of the 1991 Summer Universiade, which the facility was a host venue.
The 1993 European Swimming Championships were held at the pool. During the event Karoly Guttler of Hungary went 1.00.95 in the heats of the Mens 100m Breast stroke to set a new world record. As of May 2026 it has been the only Long Course world record set at Ponds Forge.
In the 1994 UK Sports Design Awards, Ponds Forge won British Steel award for the best use of steel in construction, and was highly commented in the overall category.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/architecture-the-winner-is-the-stadium-the-new-uk-sports-design-awards-have-caused-controversy-but-1374022.html |title=Architecture: The winner is ... the stadium – The new UK Sports Design Awards have caused controversy, but can only be beneficial, says Simon Inglis |work=The Independent |date=2 August 1994 |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>
In the 2000s Ponds Forge was a venue for Channel 4 series ''The Games'', in which celebrities competed against each other in a wide range of events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/out-and-about/games-tv-show-going-belly-up-1-316892 |title=Games' TV show going belly-up |work=The Star |date=9 September 2003 |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/out-and-about/on-your-marks-for-the-games-1-331899 |title=On your marks for The Games |work=The Star |date=23 March 2005 |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>
==Facilities== ===Olympic-sized swimming pool=== thumb|The swimming pool at Ponds Forge
The swimming pool hosted the 1993 Men's European Water Polo Championship (part of the 1993 European Aquatics Championships).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/Water_Polo/Europe/Men_1993.html|title=Men Water Polo European Championship 1993 Sheffield (GBR) – 31.07–08.08 Winner Italy|website=www.todor66.com|accessdate=7 November 2021}}</ref> It has also hosted the 2006 Underwater Hockey World Championships,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4538582.stm|title=New sport is not out of its depth|date=17 December 2005|work=BBC Sport|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref> in addition to the junior world championships in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/sheffield-play-host-underwater-hockey-world-championship-490062|title=Sheffield to play host to Underwater Hockey World Championship|work=The Star|accessdate=22 October 2021}}</ref> The pool is also used for the national underwater hockey competitions run by the British Octopush Association.
===Diving pool=== Ponds Forge has Europe's deepest diving pool at 5.85 metres.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Sheffield Snow Frills – 1st & 2nd December – Ponds Forge |url=https://www.nottingham-portland.org.uk/2012/12/13/city-of-sheffield-snow-frills-1st-2nd-december-ponds-forge/ |access-date=5 December 2016 |publisher=Portland S. C. Nottingham}}</ref> This pool hosted the FINA World Diving Series Championships in April 2011<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/diving/8455610/Tom-Daley-and-Peter-Waterfield-take-gold-in-the-10-metre-synchro-at-FINA-World-Series-event-in-Sheffield.html |title=Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield take gold in the 10 metre synchro at FINA World Series event in Sheffield |work=The Telegraph |date=16 April 2011 |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref> and was home to USA Diving Squad for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/lane-closed-the-us-olympic-diving-team-is-over-here-already-6917682.html |title=Lane closed – the US Olympic diving team is over here already |work=The Independent |date=14 February 2012 |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref> It is also home to the City of Sheffield Water Polo Club, a first division water polo team.
===Surf City leisure pool=== Surf City leisure pool includeds a 25 metre lane pool, a lazy river that goes around the outside of the pool, slides, a smaller and shallower children's with, a sensory wall, fountains, and a mini slide,<ref>{{cite web |title=Surf City Leisure Pool |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27rLp-G8xdE |access-date=6 January 2024 }}</ref> and a leisure pod for disabled swimmers equipped with a disabled hoist.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 January 2024 |title=Surf City leisure pool re-opens at Ponds Forge |url=https://www.rmcmedia.co.uk/vibe/watch-listen-do/article/Surf-City-leisure-pool-re-opens-at-Ponds-Forge |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=RMC Media }}</ref>
===Gym=== The 140-piece gym<ref name="OfficialSite" /> was refurbished in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 June 2008 |title=Gym re-development completed {{!}} TheBusinessDesk.com |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/3554-gym-re-development-completed |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=Yorkshire }}</ref>
===Sports hall=== The 10-court sports hall can facilitate badminton, table tennis, netball, volleyball, basketball, and indoor football.<ref name="OfficialSite" />
==See also== *List of long-course swimming pools in the United Kingdom
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Ponds Forge International Sports Centre}} *[https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/ponds-forge-international-sports-centre/ Official Website] *{{PastScape|mnumber=1369229 |mname= PONDS FORGE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE}}
{{SheffieldStructures}}
Category:Sports venues in Sheffield Category:Sheffield Sharks Category:Sports venues completed in 1991