Making Waves: Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer on Orlando’s Swimming Culture, Water Safety, and the Power of Learning to Swim

A longtime Orlando resident, physician, swim coach, and water safety advocate, Dr. Meisenheimer has been at the heart of the local swimming scene for decades. His passion for aquatics is matched only by his commitment to ensuring that every child in Central Florida has the opportunity to learn to swim — a mission he supports through programs like Step Into Swim and events at the Rosen Aquatic Center.

“Orlando has always had a great swimming culture,” Meisenheimer says. “Not just swimming — but diving, water polo, and even underwater hockey. This community has produced amazing athletes, including Olympians. It’s one of the reasons I moved here.”

Step Into Swim: Changing Lives One Lesson at a Time

Dr. Meisenheimer and his wife Jacquie are proud supporters of Step Into Swim, a nationwide initiative dedicated to funding swim lessons for children who might not otherwise have access.

“We’ve taught hundreds and hundreds of kids to swim through the Step Into Swim program here in Orlando,” Meisenheimer explains. “Some of those funds even go toward special needs swimmers, which is something I’ve been passionate about through my work with Special Olympics swimming.”

He stresses that learning to swim isn’t just about recreation — it’s about survival.

“Every child should know how to swim. Especially here in Central Florida, where there are so many bodies of water. It’s a tragedy when a child drowns — and those tragedies are preventable.”

Families interested in lessons through Step Into Swim can contact the Rosen Aquatic Center directly, where the program continues to expand.

Water Safety Starts with Awareness

As summer approaches, Dr. Meisenheimer’s water safety message is clear: Drown-proof your kids — and never take your eyes off them around the water.

“Swimming lessons are your last line of defense,” he says. “But supervision is always the first. It only takes a second for a child to slip into the water.”

He shares personal stories of seeing this firsthand — including his own son walking off a dock into a lake at age two, only to confidently swim back to safety because he had learned to swim before he could walk.

“That’s what we want for every child. Confidence in the water. Survival skills. You hope they never need them — but if they do, it can save their life.”

Swimming Isn’t Just for Kids

While much of the focus is on children, Meisenheimer reminds us that adults can benefit from swim lessons too.

“Adults drown, too,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s never too late to learn. We’ve had people join our programs who couldn’t swim the length of the pool when they started — and now they’re swimming across lakes.”

Building Community — One Lap at a Time

Beyond the lessons and the safety tips, Dr. Meisenheimer’s love for swimming is rooted in community. Nowhere is that more visible than at his legendary “Lucky’s Lake Swim” — a daily open-water swim in Lake Cane that’s been a Central Florida tradition for over 36 years.

“We’ve had over 80 countries represented at the swim over the years,” he says proudly. “It’s free, it’s fun, and it brings people together.”

Participants receive small mementos — bumper stickers, patches, and even the opportunity to sign the famed wall of his home — but it’s the sense of connection that keeps swimmers coming back.

A Call to Action for Local Businesses

Dr. Meisenheimer encourages local businesses to get involved in supporting swim programs — and one of the most fun ways to do that is the upcoming Cardboard Boat Races at the Rosen Aquatic Center.

“It’s a blast — teams build a boat out of cardboard and race it in the pool,” he laughs. “All the proceeds go toward swimming lessons and programs for kids with special needs. It’s a win-win.”

Want to Learn More?

• Visit: rosenaquaticcenter.org for swim programs and lessons.

• Join Lucky’s Lake Swim: luckyslakeswim.com — daily swims at Lake Cane.

• Step Into Swim Program: stepintoswim.org