Doc Lucky Meisenheimer makes a splash at YMCA Aquatic Center!

Formerly known as the Justus Aquatic Center, Central Florida’s largest indoor swimming facility opened on International Drive in 1985 as a business venture combining a hotel with a sporting venue. However, financial instability

quickly drowned the for-profit concept and, despite being a state-of-the-art site, the center was doomed to be destroyed.

Local swim enthusiasts, however, envisioned the true potential of a swimming complex; and so, local hotelier Harris Rosen fought the closure by forming an organization called Friends of the Aquatic Center, enlisting the support of Dr. Lucky (Doc Lucky) Meisenheimer and other activists. Following many laps of negotiation, the facility transitioned into a not-for-profit in alignment with the Central Florida YMCA, officially making a splash when the renamed YMCA Aquatic Center reopened in 1992. A partnership with Florida Hospital Orlando helped to create the full-service wellness center that is now celebrated as one of the best-known facilities of its kind. Although the Center earns publicity ─ thanks to Olympic legends, such as Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Janet Evans, and Missy Franklin, who have made the pool’s record board an impressive collection of American swimmers ─ the starting blocks of YMCA Aquatic Center are grounded with a sense of local community.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to teach children how to swim. Each year, I am devastated to hear about drownings which in my opinion are, for the most part, preventable deaths. That’s why I’m dedicated to helping the YMCA Aquatic Center fundraise, so that we can offer year-round swim instruction to all families regardless of financial constraints. Our scholarships can literally be lifesavers,” declared Doc Lucky, a dermatologic surgeon, award-winning science fiction novelist, championship swimmer, actor (“Doc Ruger” of the Zombie Cause webisodes), and record breaker with The Guinness Book of World Records (for largest yo-yo collection) and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not (for swimming with his foot in his mouth, achievements in ear wiggling, and more).

Today, Doc Lucky remains an advocate for the Aquatic Center ─ in every sense of the word ─ as a financial donor, sports participant and promoter, volunteer coach, and longest-standing member of the board of directors (22 years and counting)! He stresses that the Aquatic Center is more than just a community pool. It actually has three heated indoor pools, totaling more than 1 million gallons of water, in addition to a wellness center with machines, cardio-theater, 1200 sq. ft. free weight area, indoor racquetball courts, aerobics (both land & water), rental space, summer/holiday camps, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, and more.

Doc Lucky’s love for watersports seems to flood the Aquatic Center with beneficial advancements. His daily lake swims at his home on Lake Cane in Orlando, known as “Lucky’s Lake Swim,” have created a welcome overflow of area swimmers. Thousands of novice to pro athletes have taken the plunge alongside Lucky since 1989. “Some are training; others simply enjoy the unique opportunity to experience an open water swim in the middle of our state. But, most importantly, countless swimmers have participated in Lucky’s Lake Swim events to generate scholarship funds for the YMCA financial assistance programs,” he explained.

In 2010, Doc Lucky started (and competes in) an underwater hockey league at the YMCA Aquatic Center. Underwater hockey, formerly known as “Octopush,” is a team sport that was develop

ed in 1954 by a British scuba diver. The game ─ which has gained popularity in several countries including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, South Africa,  and U.S. ─ offers an intense cardio workout in a playfully competitive setting. Interested? Games are typically held on Wednesday and Friday at 7:15 pm, and updates are posted at LuckysLakeSwim.net/ycfunderwaterhockey.

Doc Lucky is just as passionate about encouraging other competitors as a volunteer coach for both the Special Olympics, a nonprofit supporting child and adult athletes with intellectual disabilities; and Masters Swim, a club that promotes competitive and fitness swimming for adults and serves as an umbrella organization for triathletes and swimmers who often compete both statewide and nationally. Local and national competitors and teams, including many Olympic athletes, rely on the Center and its experts for training in all aquatic disciplines ─ league swimming, diving, water polo, and even the Central Florida Lorelei’s, a hybrid of synchronized swimming, gymnastics, and ballet (for ages 7 and older).

Doc Lucky is now finalizing his practice drills in preparation of the Special Olympics’ swim season with athletes to suit up for training in May with state championships in October. “While athletes are at the heart of what we do at Special Olympics, volunteers like Coach Lucky are our backbone. He’s helped countless athletes find a passion for swimming and, because of him and other dedicated coaches, our athletes are accepted, included, and celebrated for their abilities, instead of sidelined for their disabilities,” shared Danielle Spears, Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Special Olympics Florida.

As a watersport fan, Doc Lucky loves to cheer on his sons during water polo matches. The Center offers SplashBall (an introduction to water polo for ages 5-10), Gladiators (next level for ages 10-14), Club Water Polo (high school program), and Masters Water Polo (ages 18+). “Residents might be surprised to learn that the Aquatic Center is essential to area high school sports programs, such as Dr. Phillips, Freedom, and Olympia, which utilize the facility not only for competitive meets but for traditional team trainings. The YMCA Aquatic Center is the biggest teen center for all of the Central Florida Y’s.”

Champions like Doc Lucky help to keep important efforts afloat in our community. For more information, visit AquaticCenterYMCA.com and DocLucky.com.