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One Sunday, Twenty Years: The Breaststroke Bootcamp Recap

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Swim Strong Foundation gathered at St. Sebastian Parish Center in Woodside for the Breaststroke Bootcamp — a morning that turned out to be about a lot more than stroke technique. The date landed on World Cleanup Day, when roughly 410 million people around the world were out doing the same thing in their own communities: showing up to make things a little better. That spirit ran through the whole morning. It was a real convergence —...

October 26, 202620th Anniversary, Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...
Flyer for the Elite Amenity 5K on June 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, benefiting Swim Strong Foundation, with a QR code to register and Bolt Fitness, Elite Amenity Management and Swim Strong logos.

Motion, Community, and Water Safety: Recapping the Elite Amenity 5K

On June 27, runners and walkers gathered at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park for the Elite Amenity 5K, hosted by Elite Amenity Management in support of Swim Strong Foundation. It was a morning built around movement, community, and purpose — and the energy on the course showed it. Fitness and water safety, hand in hand One thing came up again and again when we spoke with participants after the race: running and swimming aren't separate pursuits — they build on each other. Several runners...

August 12, 202620th Anniversary, Articles, Blog, Events, VideosComments OffRead more...

Lace Up and Make a Difference: Join the Elite Amenity 5K Run Benefiting Swim Strong Foundation

Lace up your running shoes and be part of something bigger than the finish line. The Elite Amenity 5K Run is a fun and inspiring community race — and this year, every step you take benefits Swim Strong Foundation's life-saving mission. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation helps expand access to essential water safety education, affordable swim instruction, and drowning prevention programs right here in New York City. Why This Race Matters Water safety isn't just about knowing...

June 5, 202620th Anniversary, Articles, Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...
Senator Kevin S. Parker presents a New York State Legislative Resolution to members of the Eta Nu Sigma Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. at WaterPalooza 26, held at Bushwick Campus on May 30, 2026.

Water Safety Takes Center Stage: Swim Strong Foundation at WaterPalooza 26

On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Swim Strong Foundation joined the Eta Nu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. for WaterPalooza 26 — a free, community-wide water safety and swim clinic event held at the Brooklyn School for Social Justice, Bushwick Campus. Presented in partnership with the Seven Roses Legacy Foundation and New York State Senator Kevin S. Parker, the event brought together families, young swimmers, community leaders, and water safety advocates for a day that was equal parts...

June 5, 2026Articles, Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...
Swim Strong Foundation Giving Tuesday graphic — photo collage of swim instruction across NYC pools with text "This is Water Safety Month. We're showing up, across NYC." 20th anniversary campaign.

Swim Strong Foundation Kicks Off Water Safety Month with Two Free NYC Events and Raffle

May is National Water Safety Month — and Swim Strong Foundation is bringing the mission directly to your neighborhood. This week, we’re partnering with two chapters of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. to host two free community events in Queens and Manhattan. Free swim lessons. Know Before You Go!® water safety education. CPR training. Games. Prizes. No cost to attend. Here’s everything you need to know — and how to sign up. EVENT 1: Swim 1922 in Queens — Wednesday, May 13 When...

May 11, 2026Blog, EventsComments OffRead more...

World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025: Educational Partnership Preview

Review Our Teaching Approach Through the WCDP Presentation If you're exploring educational partnerships with Swim Strong Foundation, this World Conference on Drowning Prevention presentation provides a working example of how we teach situational water knowledge across different contexts. Previous WCDP Blog What these Slides Demonstrate This presentation shows our educational methodology in practice: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 The U.S. Water Safety Gap Framework How we contextualize drowning as the leading cause of death for children under 5, connecting home water risks to environmental awareness rather than just recreational swimming. Environmental and...

January 10, 2026Blog, Events, PDF, Swim Strong ProductsComments 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...
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...

Unveiling the Extraordinary Journey of Merle Liivand: A Story of Triumph and Environmental Advocacy

Full Video Introduction: In a world where challenges seem insurmountable and environmental issues loom large, there are individuals whose stories serve as beacons of hope and inspiration. One such individual is Merle Liivand, whose remarkable journey from adversity to triumph is nothing short of awe-inspiring. In this blog post, we delve into the captivating speech delivered by Merle Liivand, where she shares her extraordinary life story, her passion for swimming, and her unwavering commitment to environmental advocacy. The Journey Begins: Merle Liivand's journey is...

April 17, 2024Blog, Events, VideosComments OffRead more...