The City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team is a program of the Department of Parks Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team was founded in 1984 by Aquatic Program Manager Askia Bashir.  The team was composed of nine swimmers. The team was formed to provide an organized and structured competitive swim program that offers year-round instruction and competition for inner city youth.  However, since 1984, the competitive program has expanded its goals to include training and strategy for members to secure athletic or academic scholarship.

Each year graduating team members receive education support through athletic or academic scholarships. A number of team members have attended and graduated from the Air Force Academy, Emory University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Noth Carolina A&T University Albany State University and Stanford University.  Several students are now attending, North Carolina a&T, University, North Carolina University, Georgia Southern University, Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse University, Georgia Tech , Duke University and others.

The City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team philosophy strives to place emphasis on positive character development, self-discipline, consistent work ethic and courage. These are vital components for achieving success in swimming and in life.  The coaching staff of the City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team is charged with maintaining a commitment to this philosophy. While providing quality instruction, we must be aware of each opportunity that will help instill in our youth the positive character building traits beneficial in developing not only into competitive swimmers, but into productive individuals in society.

It is our responsibility to educate and reinforce our youth on healthful behaviors in their daily lives. We must teach our youth about life skills and help them to understand that these are skills learned and practiced over a lifetime.  Addition ally, we must educate our youth on the differences between healthful behaviors and risk behaviors, which will ultimately help our youth to maintain and improve their health, prevent diseases and reduce risk behaviors.

Finally, it is necessary that we apply this philosophy throughout the organization as we continue to provide service to our program and the surrounding communities.  By dedicating our actions to these core fundamental values, we will ensure that our youth understands that hard work, perseverance and courage are the backbone for success in any endeavor of life.

⦁ To provide opportunities for swim participants to grow and develop socially, mentally and physically, and to attain their maximum potential in competitive swimming.

⦁ To provide opportunities for participants to develop and practice self-discipline, good sportsmanship and respect for the rights of others.

⦁ To instill in each swim participant the appreciation of the value of hard work, commitment, dedication, perseverance, self-esteem and the importance of self-confidence.

⦁ To provide professional instructional, training and learning experiences that will meet the needs, interests and abilities of the swim participants.