As an extension to its Make-a-Splash initiative, World Sport Chicago has launched a program to promote and enhance competitive aquatics in the Chicagoland area. The program aims to increase the appeal and awareness of existing aquatic opportunities, to expand and enhance community programming, and to increase access to quality facilities.

After the record setting success of Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, World Sport Chicago partnered with USA Swimming's Biomechanics Division at the 2008 Chicago Science in the City to present the tools of the swimming trade. One of dozens of interactive exhibits, the Swim like Mike exhibit taught students how equipment such as swim caps, goggles and body suites are used to give swimmers a competitive edge and how important form and movements are for Mike to achieve his Gold-winning times. The program continued with a series of community presentations in partnership with USA Swimming and NFL Parents Association member and former NCAA Swimming Champion Fred Evans teaching the benefits of low-impact, year-round cross training in aquatic sports such as swimming and water polo.

In November 2008 WSC, in partnership with Chicago Park District, sponsored two youth clinics as part of USA Water Polo's Programs for Athletes and Coaches Education (PACE). The 6-hour long clinics featured team members from the USA Women's National and 2008 Women's Olympic Head Coach, Guy Baker. Students were taught the very drills and skills the athletes use as elites and Coach Baker had special sessions for the development of coaches.

To view more photos from this program, please visit our Flickr page.