Along with Casey Barrett, Lars is the co-founder of Imagine Swimming. He was a member of the German National Swim Team from 1992 until 2000 - a European Junior Champion, European Medalist, German Champion, World Military Champion, and World Cup Finalist. His father Heinz was his first coach and inspired him to go on to work with youth. A University of California at Berkeley graduate majoring in Political Economy, he was an NCAA Champion in then US Open Record Time, Academic All-American, and a Captain of the Cal Swimming & Diving Team.

With over three decades of experience as both a teacher and coach, Lars worked previously with swim programs in Germany and California, and also taught at Alice Water’s "The Edible Schoolyard" at Berkeley’s Martin Luther King Jr Middle School. He has been the vision behind Imagine's myriad apparel and merchandising items. 

Away from the pool, Lars brings the Imagine spirit to the surf and stage. He's a regular on the waves in Far Rockaway and in Montauk, where he led the opening of Imagine's East End location. His sister Ines is an opera singer in Italy, and Lars enjoys playing the drums. Lars and Annabel’s son Oskar was born on Father’s Day 2010. Oskar learned to swim at Imagine’s Tribeca Flagship, and learned to race with the Manhattan Makos. He now swims for his High School Swim Team, the East Hampton Bonackers.