Making Waves Across Orange County
Mission Viejo Nadadores & Orange County Sports Commission

The Orange County Sports Commission (OCSC) works to use sport as a catalyst for economic vitality and community-building across Orange County. Through intentional partnerships and a clear regional strategy, OCSC connects strong local organizations to opportunities that elevate the entire sports ecosystem.

One of the OCSC’s strongest partnerships is with Mission Viejo Nadadores, one of the most respected and successful swimming and diving organizations in the country.

Since 1968, Nadadores has worked to build a robust athlete pipeline, developing talent from first swim lessons to the Olympic Games. Today, the organization serves more than 1,200 members across swim schools, professional swimming and diving, and masters programs. Executive Director Michelle Mitchell described their programming as “from birth to death.” It’s a testament to how deeply Nadadores is embedded in the Mission Viejo community.

With 106 Olympians produced over its 58-year history, Nadadores operates at an elite level while remaining distinctly local. Based at the city-owned Marguerite Aquatics Complex, the nonprofit runs professional divisions alongside swim and dive programs based in neighborhood pools throughout Mission Viejo. Mitchell explained, “We’re a nonprofit using a city facility. No other relationship exists like that in the country.” That partnership reflects long-term civic commitment and shared investment in sport as a community asset.

Nadadores’ legacy and elite facilities allow it to attract and host major competitions, such as the 2025 U.S. Junior Diving Championships, the nation’s premier youth diving event and stepping stone for Olympics-aspiring athletes. Events of this caliber elevate Orange County’s national (and increasingly international) profile and fuel sports tourism for the entire region. Athletes and families come to compete, but many stay to experience the region’s beaches, weather, and outdoor culture. Orange County turns a sports competition into a vacation destination.

And the momentum continues to build ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. National diving teams from Australia, France, and the Netherlands have selected Mission Viejo Nadadores as their pre-Olympic training base, with camps scheduled as early as 2026. It’s a global vote of confidence in Orange County’s facilities and its ability to host at the highest level.

Yet even as Nadadores’ events draw global attention, their impact is felt most deeply within the community. At the Marguerite Aquatics Complex, where young athletes train alongside Olympians, exists a culture where excellence is visible and feels attainable. “You have literal heroes walking on the pool decks every day,” said Mitchell. For young athletes, that proximity builds confidence and connection. Role models are everywhere, and the next generation is inspired simply by being a part of it.

That culture extends beyond swimming. Orange County is building a layered sports network, where families return year after year and spectators show up to support kids, neighbors, and local legends. As Mitchell put it, “From all these grassroots efforts, major leagues like the NFL and NBA are born.” What ultimately sustains the sports ecosystem isn’t professional headlines, but the culture of opportunity that allows people to participate and grow at every level.