Once upon a time…

After the war, Berlin lay in ruins, and the Neuer Hain had become a cratered landscape, requiring extensive earthworks. It was soon decided to further develop the Neuer Hain as a sports facility. In just 156 days, Berliners, working in “voluntary” construction shifts, built the Friedrich-Friesen Swimming Stadium in order to open it for the III World Festival of Youth in East Berlin in 1951. The stadium was named after a swimming-enthusiastic contemporary and comrade of gymnastics pioneer Turnvater Jahn, who had also fought for freedom against Napoleon in the 1800s. When constructed, the sports complex included a 50-meter swimming pool, a diving pool, and a shallow pool for swimmers. Spectators could use stands accommodating 8,000 guests. In 1958, Karin Beyer set the first East German world record in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Friesen Stadium.Over time, the complex grew, adding a public outdoor pool, athletics facilities, a boathouse, a ballet room for divers, and a weightlifting house. In 1963, the pool received a temporary roof to allow winter training. However, since the roof was designed without adequate ventilation, tropical conditions prevailed inside, with humid, warm air saturated with chlorine compounds. The building’s structure suffered, marking the beginning of the pool’s decline. In 1987, building authorities closed large parts of the spectator stands. After German reunification, the decay continued, leading to the closure of the public areas in 1998. The Friesen Stadium was demolished in 1999.