The Olympians Next Door

Olympic sailors have arrived in San Pedro, and for the next two years they will be part of daily life as they train for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

You may pass one on a morning walk, see them working out at the YMCA (the rowing machine is their favorite), riding a bike along the waterfront, or picking up groceries. They are already here, quietly preparing to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Recent international regattas hosted at the Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center brought athletes from more than 40 countries to experience the future Olympic sailing course and the famous winds of Hurricane Gulch. Although the competition has ended, many of those athletes will continue to return to San Pedro over the next two years as they prepare for LA28.

The waterfront center is being transformed into an Olympic training facility operated by Pathway to Podium, a nonprofit founded in 2025. The organization is leasing the property from the Port of LA for two years and quickly turning the former Boy Scout camp into a welcoming home for visiting athletes.

For decades, the center served the Boy Scouts of America, which raised $3.6 million to build the facility, including an Olympic-size pool, an amphitheater, and camping areas. When San Pedro was selected to host Olympic sailing, the property took on a new purpose while continuing to support community groups such as the LA Harbor Dragon Boat Club and the San Pedro Outrigger Canoe Club.

Under CEO Kelly Marie’s leadership, the transformation has moved quickly. Floors have been replaced, walls repainted, and long-overdue safety improvements completed. Marie is also working to bring youth camping back to the property, including the Boy Scouts, once all safety requirements are met.

“My goal is to expose as many [young people] as possible to the ocean and instill positive behavior while helping create a better planet,” Marie said.

The recent regattas also marked the start of pre-Olympic training. An adjacent parking lot has been converted into a small Olympic village, with shipping containers serving as offices for visiting national teams. Countries are leasing these spaces so athletes have a base each time they return to train.

The Port of Los Angeles has committed $5 million toward major improvements, including renovations to the pool, deck, kitchen, and bathrooms, while seeking additional funding for future upgrades.

Perhaps the most exciting part of hosting Olympic sailing is that the athletes are no longer weekend visitors. They are becoming our neighbors. Sailors from Ireland recently stayed next door to my home while training. Down the street, athletes from Norway were staying. Others are living with host families in San Pedro, Palos Verdes, and Long Beach. Some are staying aboard boats in local marinas.

That is one of the unique opportunities San Pedro has as an Olympic host community. Instead of watching only the Games on television, residents will see the preparation that precedes the medals. They will watch athletes train in our harbor, experience our challenging winds, and see familiar faces around town.

According to Mike Galvin, director of waterfront and commercial real estate for the Port of Los Angeles, the Olympic improvements at the center are also designed with the future in mind. After the Games, the Port plans to issue a competitive request for proposals to create a facility that serves an even broader range of community and youth programs, ensuring a lasting legacy beyond 2028.

The Olympic Games last only a few weeks, but the journey to get there takes years. That journey is unfolding right here. Athletes are launching from our harbor, testing themselves against the winds off Cabrillo Beach, and chasing a dream that began long before the opening ceremony. Some will earn a place on the Olympic podium; others will simply have the honor of representing their country. For all of them, San Pedro has become part of that story.

For volunteer opportunities, visit LA28.org. To learn more about Pathway to Podium, visit pathway2podium.org. spt