Swimming School Knechtli

We are at home in the water

Since 1976 we have been accompanying people with heart, experience and personal commitment on their way to safety, trust and joy in the water. What once began as a passion is today a family business – driven by closeness, consistency and the conviction that swimming is much more than technique.

For us, swimming is not just a course.

It is responsibility, enthusiasm and a piece of lived family history.

The swimming school Knechtli was founded by Doris Knechtli, who turned her hobby into a profession. As an active competitive and synchronized swimmer at the Schwimmklub Basel she gathered valuable experience in performance sport early on. Later she worked as a coach and engaged in administrative and organizational work. Thus she laid both the professional and structural foundation of the swimming school.

In 2012 the swimming school was converted into a GmbH.

Since January 1, 2013 the swimming school is run by Salome Schärer‑Knechtli, the youngest daughter of the founder, and her husband Christian Schärer. The succession therefore remained consciously within the family – a heartfelt wish of Doris Knechtli that was implemented with great trust and pride.

Salome Schärer‑Knechtli grew up with the swimming school from an early age and was also a performance swimmer. She continues the family tradition with great professional competence and contemporary didactics. She has completed all training up to Swimming Leader A from Jugend+Sport, in addition to parent‑child and baby training at swimsports.ch as well as Aqua‑Fit training at Ryffel Running and FloatFit‑HIIT training at AquaPhysical. This broad educational foundation she combines with great empathy, modern methodology and genuine joy in teaching.

For over 13 years Salome and Christian have run the swimming school Knechtli with passion, personal commitment and a clear quality standard.

As a family business we stand for closeness, trust and continuity – values that are reflected in every single course.

In 2026 we proudly celebrate our 50th anniversary. Five decades of the swimming school Knechtli mean generations of swimmers, countless shared moments in the water – and the same passion as on the first day.

Swimming school Knechtli – anything but dry exercises