History

Winter, 2002. On a beach in Costa Rica and a cubicle in Manhattan, Imagine
Swimming was born. Two friends needed a change. One moved to a tropical country to surf and to think. The other stewed behind a desk, plotting his escape. Both had been world-class swimmers. The water was their life, the site of their greatest triumphs and deepest lessons. If only they could find a way to make it their career.

Then one day an e-mail arrived in the tropics. The subject read: “Important Stateside Concern.” It described an idea for a swimming school, a program that passed along the skills and thrills of the water. The reader thought of the name instantly – “Imagine Swimming.”

Nine years later, that idea has taken on a life of its own. With swimming pools across NYC and more always on the way, Imagine Swimming has evolved into an institution of aquatic culture. While the founders, Casey Barrett and Lars Merseburg, continue to search for new ways to celebrate their sport...