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Steamboat Springs — The Olympics have built a buzz at Excel Gymnastics of Steamboat, but the 30-plus U.S. swimming medals haven't had much impact on Old Town Hot Springs' aquatic program.

Excel owner and coach Mike Smith said gymnastics program registration was up 25 to 30 percent.

"We do have lots of people coming in, both boys and girls, (and the parents say) 'Oh, he watched the Olympics; he's so excited. It's great, I had to sign him up and see how he does, see how she does,'" Smith said.

The U.S. women's team won eight medals, including the silver honor for all-around skill. The men's team won two medals, including the bronze all-around award.

People who have come in have been talking about the competition, Smith said, adding that the men's team did much better than expected. Excel went from having one full class to having five full classes during a couple of days last week, he said.

"We've got a lot more girls on our training team and on our team programs," Smith said. The gymnastics center offers a Junior Olympic training team, as well as classes for youths and adults, he said.

The business opened in March 2007. Smith attributed the increase in registration, which goes on for at least another week, to a couple of factors.

"Some of that's definitely an Olympic bounce, but some of it is people are getting to know us," he said.

The U.S. swimming teams, which brought home a barrel of gold, silver and bronze medals, haven't created a monstrous splash at Old Town Hot Springs, Aquatics Director Rachael Rangel said. She said increased interest also could be attributed to last weekend's Steamboat Springs Triathlon.

"I would say that while the Olympics were going on, we had more of that," Rangel said, referring to swimmer traffic. "And I would say that people would actually go and sort of (swim) faux swim laps - they're not usually lap swimmers, but they're sort of giving it a try."

The U.S. women's team won 14 medals. The male swimmers, including star Michael Phelps, won 17 medals this month in Beijing. They also set several world and Olympic records. Phelps told The Associated Press that he aims to increase interest in swimming and exercise.

The U.S. team came home empty-handed in the synchronized swimming and diving events.

Rangel said there were no swimming lessons under way, so she couldn't say whether interest had picked up. Adults were talking, though.

"You would just sort of hear the buzz around, 'Did you see that race?'" Rangel said.