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Author - Shawn Slevin

Twelve-year-old Xaire stands on the pool deck at Brooklyn College, looking out over the indoor swimming pool with blue lane dividers. He's wearing a gray hoodie and the facility has wooden bleacher seating along the walls. The pool appears clean and well-maintained in this institutional recreational facility.

Why Every Brooklyn Parent Needs to Read This Investigation Right Now

The Investigation We Wish We Didn't Need to See Today's Brooklyn Paper investigation into Brooklyn's water safety crisis confirms what we've known at Swim Strong Foundation: the system is broken, and children are paying the price. When we lost Elyjha Chandler and Christian Perkins at Jacob Riis Park last summer, their mothers chose to turn grief into action through our Brooklyn South partnership. Now this investigation reveals why their advocacy is so desperately needed. The Reality Check The families featured in today's article –...

June 24, 2025Articles, Blog, Swim Strong in The NewsComments OffRead more...

Turning Grief into Action: Brooklyn South’s Water Safety Initiative

A Community United by Purpose The summer of 2024 brought unimaginable tragedy to our Brooklyn South community when two promising young students—Elyjha and Christian—lost their lives to drowning at Riis Park. In the depths of their grief, their mothers made an extraordinary decision. Rather than allowing their pain to isolate them, they chose to transform their profound loss into purpose by becoming advocates for water safety education—knowledge that could have saved their children's lives. Partners in Prevention This initiative represents the power of partnership...

June 24, 2025BlogComments OffRead more...

Making Waves: Our Life-Saving Partnership with Kiwanis of the Rockaways

As we approach Memorial Day and the official start of beach season, we're thrilled to share some incredible news that's making a real difference in our community's water safety. We've partnered with Kiwanis of the Rockaways to provide free swimming lessons to 24 local children this year – and this is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting collaboration to save lives in our waterfront community. Why This Partnership Matters Living in the Rockaways means being surrounded by 17...

May 25, 2025Articles, Blog, Swim Strong in The NewsComments OffRead more...
Swim coach lecturing students on how to do a drill in the shallow end.

Swim Strong Featured in Amsterdam News: A Life-Saving Skill in a Warming World

We're thrilled to share that Swim Strong Foundation was recently featured in Amsterdam News! Our founder Shawn Slevin discussed the critical importance of water safety and swimming education in an era of extreme weather and climate change.   From our innovative 'Know Before You Go' program to the growing need for water safety awareness in New York City, the article explores how we're working to protect our communities through education and access to swimming instruction. Want to learn more about our mission and...

May 4, 2025Articles, Blog, Swim Strong in The NewsComments OffRead more...
Merle Liivand demonstrating proper hand positioning for the breaststroke pull phase. Wearing a white swim cap and blue-tinted goggles, she shows the correct hand form while explaining technique to attentive young swimmers.

World Record Holder Merle Liivand Leads Spectacular Breaststroke Bootcamp

  A Day of EliteTraining with "The Eco-Mermaid" This past Monday, swimmers gathered at the Bushwick HS Campus Pool for an extraordinary opportunity - a specialized Breaststroke Bootcamp led by Lady Merle Liivand, Estonian Champion and five-time Guinness World Record holder for monofin swimming. The event, hosted by the Swim Strong Foundation, brought together competitive swimmers eager to learn from one of the world's most accomplished breaststroke and open water swimmers. Merle, who began swimming due to medical challenges with her lungs, has...

April 19, 2025Blog, Events, VideosComments OffRead more...
A swimmer demonstrating competitive breaststroke technique in a lap lane. This demonstrates the proper body position and form that would be taught by Merle Liivand, who is an Estonian Champion in both 50 meter and 200 meter breaststroke.

Elevate Your Breaststroke: Exclusive Bootcamp with World Record Holder Lady Merle Liivand

Elevate Your Breaststroke: Exclusive Bootcamp with World Record Holder Lady Merle Liivand Are you looking to take your competitive swimming to the next level? Here's your chance to learn from one of the best in the world! We're thrilled to announce an exclusive Competitive Breaststroke Bootcamp with elite international open water swimmer and Guinness World Record holder, Lady Merle Liivand. The Expert Behind the Training Lady Merle Liivand isn't just any swim instructor. As an Estonian Champion in both the 50-meter and 200-meter...

April 9, 2025Articles, Blog, Events, PSAsComments OffRead more...
A person wearing a white cap turned backward, blue shirt, and a race blanket with "NYC Half" branding smiles at the camera in a post-race selfie. They're wearing a race medal with a green lanyard. In the background are other runners with thermal blankets and portable toilets, indicating this is after completing the race.

From Start to Finish: A NYC Half Marathon Journey

NYC Half Marathon Recap! Dear [Team/Supporters/Friends], I’m excited to share that I successfully completed the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon this past weekend—my first long-distance race! It was an incredible experience—challenging, rewarding, and made even more meaningful by running in support of the Swim Strong Foundation and our mission to provide water safety education and swim lessons to communities all over the world. The energy of the city, the camaraderie of fellow runners, and the unwavering support from all of you kept me going through every mile. From...

March 19, 2025Articles, BlogComments OffRead more...
Full Race Map for United Airlines Half Marathon 2025

Swim Strong Foundations : First Half Marathon Team

Marathon Weekend Our Runners This year marks Swim Strong's first time participating in this iconic race, and we couldn't be prouder of our five incredible runners: Francisco, Ada, Ruihan, Judy, and Andrew. Each of them has a personal connection to our mission of water safety education and drowning prevention Race Course This year's half marathon is especially exciting because runners will cross the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in NYRR race history! The 13.1-mile course takes runners from Prospect Park through Brooklyn, over the...

March 15, 2025Articles, Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...
Ada's Image: "Runner in white Nike tank top captured mid-run at a race, with other runners visible in the background against a tree-lined path at sunset" Francisco's Image: "Swim coach in grey t-shirt sitting poolside surrounded by young swimmers in purple swim caps and swimsuits, looking at a device" Judy's Image: "Runner in purple event t-shirt and black leggings standing on a city street after a race, with other participants and urban buildings visible in the background" Ruihan's Image: "Runner in black athletic wear standing with arms outstretched on a green hillside, with dramatic snow-capped Alpine mountains in the background" Andrew’s Image: “Man in a dark double-breasted suit and white shirt smiling warmly at the camera, standing against a backdrop of green-lit paneling and marble walls in a professional setting"

Runners Who Make a Splash!

Supporting life-saving swimming lessons, one mile at a time. Meet our incredible team running the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon to support Swim Strong Foundation's mission of water safety education. Our Amazing Fundraising Team Francisco Nieves: From Pool to Pavement A lifelong swimmer turned advocate, Francisco's journey from competitive swimming to coaching shows his dedication to water safety. His mission continues as he takes on the United Airlines Half Marathon to ensure more children have access to life-saving swim lessons. [Support Francisco's Campaign] Ada...

February 18, 2025Articles, Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...
Article Cover Image from US Swimming Magazine by Jim Dubois showing Reagan as a Lifeguard

Presidential Swimming: Leadership Lessons from the Water

From therapeutic necessity to lifesaving heroics, the relationship between U.S. Presidents and swimming reveals compelling stories about leadership, perseverance, and water safety. Through the lens of presidential swimming experiences, we can explore valuable lessons that continue to resonate with modern audiences.  The Early Champions  John Quincy Adams: The Dedicated Daily Swimmer [^1] Perhaps no president demonstrated more dedication to swimming than John Quincy Adams. For nearly 30 years, from age 50 to 79, Adams maintained a remarkable morning routine in the Potomac River....

February 17, 2025Articles, BlogComments OffRead more...
In celebration of Lunar New Year, this stylized landscape reveals four manifestations of the Water Dragon. First, a light blue cloud-dragon soars near the black moon in the night sky. Second, a sinuous river-dragon winds through the woodlands, splitting into two dragon heads as it meets the ocean. Third, a partially thawing lake-dragon rests in the landscape. Fourth, a cloud-dragon forms near the mountain's sunset. The landscape harmoniously blends urban and natural elements, with city buildings integrating into forested areas, connected by a winding path. A modern building anchors the lower right, while a beach with protective jetties borders the vast ocean. The color palette flows from dark blues in the night sky through sunset pinks and oranges, complemented by rich forest greens and serene water blues. This composition represents the Water Dragon's role as guardian of all forms of water, bridging night and day as we welcome the new year.

The Water Dragon’s Silent Message: A Journey of Learning and Teaching

A New Swimmer's Journey: Discovering the Water Dragon's Wisdom A Journey Begins: Learning to Swim as a Parent As a new swimmer who has been training with Swim Strong Foundation for the past year, I've come to understand water in ways I never imagined. Finding Inspiration in My Son's Swimming Journey My son, who started his swimming journey two months before me, has been my inspiration and companion on this aquatic adventure. Together, we've discovered the magic and respect that comes with understanding water's...

January 29, 2025Articles, Blog, PSAsComments OffRead more...
Photo provided by the office of AM Jessica González-Rojas , showing Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and other lawmakers kicked off a capital campaign for public pool at Lexington School for the Deaf.

Queens Deaf School Pool Renovation Gets $1.5M Boost – Major Victory for Water Safety

A landmark initiative is underway to restore the historic swimming pool at Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens, with Assembly Member González-Rojas securing $1 million in funding and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation contributing $500,000. The renovation will not only serve the school's deaf students but will also provide vital swimming instruction and lifeguard training to the broader Queens community. In a city where drowning rates are rising and millions lack access to public pools, this project represents a crucial...

November 27, 2024Articles, Blog, Swim Strong in The NewsComments OffRead more...