At IMG Academy, excellence is everywhere.
Classrooms, weight rooms and dining halls are filled with some of the most elite high school athletes in the world.While they might not be playing the same sport, they're all there for the same reason: they want to be the best at what they do.
Soon, swimmers will be a part of that ecosystem, too.
IMG Academy is preparing to launch its club swimming program in fall 2027, bringing another group of elite athletes into the environment.
“IMG is a unique model from an academic-athletic standpoint," John Hargis, Director of Swimming at IMG, told USA TODAY Sports. "Our kids do world-class things in their field of play. They do world-class things within the academic realm at the same time. So, from our standpoint, we’re
going to do the exact same.”
For Hargis, the opportunity is particularly personal.
An Olympic gold medalist, former collegiate swimmer at Auburn University and former NCAA Division I head coach, he understands what it takes to compete at the highest level – and what it takes to get there.
Now, he’s looking for the next generation of athletes.
“We’re looking for athletes that are extremely dedicated to their sport, determined, are high achievers athletically, but also high achievers in the classroom,” Hargis said. “We want athletes that dream big, want to be able to take hold of all the resources that IMGA offers, and utilize those resources for the betterment of themselves.”
There will be plenty of resources to take advantage of.
IMG’s new state-of-the-art aquatic center will feature an outdoor 50-meter by 25-meter pool with 10 lanes. The facility is expected to be completed in the spring.
Swimmers will also have access to a dedicated strength and conditioning coach, sports scientists, nutritionists and numerous other resources designed to develop athletes both in and out of the pool.
“I think the resources that we’ll be able to provide from just the facility itself – I don’t know if you’d find an outdoor facility that will have access to what we’re going to have access to moving forward,” Hargis said.
The biggest resource, however, might be in head coach Jason Bowes.
Bowes was hired as IMG’s new head coach last month, bringing nearly two decades of experience as the head coach and director of operations for Tampa Bay Aquatics and Tampa Preparatory School Swim & Dive.
Together, Bowes and Hargis are building the program from the ground up – determining what it will look like, how they will train, what kind of athletes they want and what kind of culture they need to create.
There has been no shortage of interest in the program so far. The two have already spoken with athletes from 16 different countries.
Bowes said the pitch isn’t complicated.
“From our standpoint, there’s no selling going on,” Bowes said. “It’s, ‘Guys, look what we have. This is what we provide. This is what we’re about.’”
IMG has spent the past 48 years building this foundation.
What began as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy has grown into a highly competitive sports institution. IMG is currently home to 11 sport programs, with swimming set to become its 12th.
According to IMG Academy, 70% of the Class of 2026 will play their sport in college, compared to the national average of just 6%.
Hargis believes the environment itself is a huge reason behind the success of its athletes.
At IMG, students aren’t limited to connecting with just their teammates. Elite athletes from different sports train, study and live alongside each other.
“I think there is something to be said that when you’re training elite athletes – no matter the sport – the mindset of that athlete is pretty similar,” Hargis said.
He’s looking for swimmers who want to take advantage of that opportunity.
“We want someone to take advantage of that lunchtime period that they’re sitting across from maybe a Davis Cup champion tennis player," he said. "What is that tennis player doing that can help me? What is that football player doing that can help me?”
The vision for the aquatic center goes beyond just the swim team, however. IMG plans to host swim camps this summer and eventually expand access to the facility throughout the community.
“How do we allow access for young kids?” Hargis said. “How do we allow access to a Master’s program? I mean, we’re talking about access to water polo, triathletes, possibly. So, we’re thinking of the big picture in terms of the amount of access we want.”
The focus right now, however, is on the swim team itself.
As the facility continues to be built, the program begins to take shape and the athletes begin to be identified, Bowes and Hargis know one thing for sure:
“It’s a unique place that provides a one-of-one unrivaled experience for our student athletes,” Bowes said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: IMG Academy's newest sport has arrived. Its ambitions are already global
