Introduction

Swimming as a discipline went through a number of experimental stages, like the 50 m controlled heating pool, or specially-built conduits that minimise water turbulence, before arriving in its contemporary form as one of the most glamorous events of the Olympic Games.

At the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, swimming competitions took place in the yachting marina at Zea (Piraeus). The swimmers got on a boat, and having reached the chilly waters of the Saronic Gulf, they leapt into the sea, swimming towards the finishing line at the Marina Zeas’ shore.

From the yachting marina in Zea in 1896, via the river Seine in Paris in 1900, to the 100 m pool within a running track in 1908, Swimming venues have changed. The 100 m event that began in 1896 exclusively for Greek sailors developed into an underwater obstacle course (1900) and ended up as today’s 32 men’s and women’s events.

Understanding Swimming

Swimming became organized as an amateur sport in the late 19th cent. in several countries. The English are considered the first modem society to develop swimming as a sport. By 1837, when modern competitive swimming began in London, several indoor pools already existed. Its popularity increased with the development and improvement of the swimming pool, and swimming was part of the first modern Olympic Games (1896).

Although people have swum since ancient times, swimming strokes have been greatly refined in the past 100 years. The four basic strokes are illustrated below:

Butterfly

In the variation of the breaststroke known as the butterfly, both arms are brought forward together over the water and then brought backward simultaneously. The movement of the arms is continuous and is accompained by an undulating movement of the hips. The leg kick, called the dolphin kick, is a whiplike downward motion of the unseparated feet.

Events: 100 m, 200 m

Breaststroke

This is a fairly complex swimming style, calling for perfect coordination of arm and leg movements. In direct contrast to freestyle and backstroke, hand and legs must move simultaneously. In the breaststroke, the swimmer lies front down, arms pointed straight ahead with palms down, and executes the following sequence of horizontal movements. The arms are swept backward in line with the shoulders, always on or under the surface of the water. The legs are drawn up close to the body, with knees and toes turned out, and are then thrust outward as the arms are brought back to hte starting point-at which the netire cycle begins again. The swimmer exhales underwater. The arm strokes must be lateral, not vertical, an important and much debated point of style in competitive swimming.

Events: 100 m, 200 m

Freestyle

In the freestyle (crawl), one of the swimmer's arms moves through the air, the hand turning palm downward ready to catch the water, elbow relaxed, as the other arm pulls under the water. The legs move in what has evolved in recent years as the flutter kick, an alternating up-and-down movement from the hips, legs relaxed, toes pointed, feet turned inward. Four to eight kick strokes per single arm movement are used. Proper breathing is very important in this stroke. One full breath can be taken in each arm cycle, with the swimmer inhaling through the mouth by turning the head to the side as the arm passes, then exhaling underwater as the arm comes forward again.

Events: 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1,500 m. The 800 m event is only for women, while the 1,500 m is only for men.

Backstroke

Backstroke resembles freestyle swimming as far as the alternating movements of arms and legs. When starting, competitors take their place in the swimming pool facing the pool's wall and holding the starting points' handholds with both hands. The backstroke is essentially the crawl stroke but with the swimmer's head back turned to the water. Alternately, one arm is lifted, palm facing outward, from being the leg and is brought up behind the head while the other arm pulls the body through the water. A flutter kick is used. A common cause for disqualification is crossing the 15 m line during the glide at the start or at the turn.

Events: 100 m, 200 m

Individual medley

In medley individual events, the swimmer competes in every swimming style, at equal distances. This event combines technique, speed, and endurance. The sequence followed is: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. Events: 200 m, 400 m

Relays

Four swimmers from the same team competed in relays, using all four swimming styles, the sequence being: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Relay changeovers are valid when the feet of the outgoing swimmer detach from the board at least 3/100 seconds after the fingers of the incoming swimmer touch the wall. If the outgoing swimmer moves too early, his or her team is disqualified.  Events: 4 x 100 m freestyle, 4 x 100 m medley, 4 x 200 m freestyle.