Passion of swimming as a recreation activity dates back to 2500 B.C in ancient Egypt later in Greece, Rome & Assyria. For the Greeks and Romans, swimming was a crucial part of the education & development of elementary-age-boys. The Romans were first to build public swimming pools separate from bathing pools.
Famed Roman patron of the arts Gaius Maecenas commissioned the first heated swimming pool. This luxury, set among sprawling gardens became a featured attraction as his lavish villa and was visited regularly by Roman emperors who desired a comfortable swim.
In the mid-19th century, swimming pools exploded in popularity – by 1837, London alone featured six indoor pools, complete with diving boards. The debut of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 elevated swimming pools to worldwide acclaim, as swimming races were featured in original roster of competition.