History of Basic Swimming

• The earliest record of swimming dates back to Stone Age paintings from around 6,000 years ago while written references back from 2000 B.C.
• During the Ancient Times, cave paintings from the Stone Age were found in the “Cave of Swimmers” near the Wadi Sora on the Gilf Kebir plateau in the Southwestern part in Egypt near Libya
• In the "Cave of swimmers", an Egyptian clay seal dated between 400 B.C. and 9000 B.C. was found showing four swimmers who were believed to be swimming a variant of the front crawl.
• The Nagod Bas-relief showing swimmers dating back 3000 B.C.
• The Indian Palace of Mohenjo Daro which contained a swimming pool (Great Bath) sized 30 meters by 60 meters as early as 280 B.C.
• An Egyptian tomb showing a variant of front crawl dated back from 200 B.C.
• Depiction of swimmers which were found from the Hittites, Minoans, and other Middle Eastern civilizations in the Tepantitla compound at Teotihuacan and Pompeii mosaics.
• Swimming was not included in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece though the Greeks practiced the sport, often building a swimming pool as part of their baths.
• In ancient Rome, swimming was considered a health practice. Swimming races were held in the Tiber River to enhance the swimming skills of the Romans. The famous Julius Caesar himself was known to be a good swimmer.
• In Japan, swimming was one of the noble skills of the Samurai. Historic records revealed that swimming competitions organized and conducted by Emperor Suigui in 36 B.C. were the first known swimming races.
• In addition, German folklore described swimming as a skill used to be successful in wars against the Romans. Swimming competitions were also conducted during those times.
• Swimming was initially one of the seven abilities of knights during the Middle Ages, including swimming with armor.
• In 1539, Nicolas Wynman, a German professor of languages wrote the first swimming book entitled "Colymbetes". His goal was not the exercise but rather to reduce the dangers of drowning.
• In 1603, the first national swimming organization was established in Japan.
• In 1716, Benjamin Franklin who was able to read Thenvenot's "The Art of Swimming" was credited for inventing the swimming fins at the age of ten.
• In 1696, the French author Melechisidech Thevenot wrote "The Art of Swimming" describing a breaststroke very similar to modern breaststroke.
• • In 1739, Guts Muts, an author from Schnepfenthal, Germany wrote "Gymnastik for fur die Jugend".
• In 1767, more life saving groups were established in Amsterdam by the Dutch, 1772 in Copenhagen and 1774 in Great Britain.
• In 1794, Kanonikus Oronzio de Bernardi of Italy wrote a two-volume book about swimming including floating practice as a prerequisite for swimming lessons.
• In 1796, a swimming club named the Upsala Simsallskap was founded in Uppsala, Sweden
• In 1798, the first known life saving group "Chiang Kiang Association for Saving of Life" was established in China.
• In 1804, W.H Mallison invested the lifebelt, a devise which was known at the time as ‘Seaman’s Friend”.
• In 1837, the first German Swimming Club was founded. In the same year the French invented swimming skates or what is presently known as the surf-board. 
• In 1844, a swimming competition was conducted in London.
• In 1844, a swimming competition was conducted in London.
• In  1862, the first indoor swimming pool was built in England.
• • In 1880, an amateur Swimming Association of Great Britain was organized with more than 300 members. 
• A record breaking event was recorded when J.H Thayers of England swam 100 yards with the time 1:02.50 using sidestroke.
• Sometimes between 1870 and 1890, John Arthur Trudgen reintroduced the front crawl to Englishmen.
• In 1875, Captain Matthew Webb swam the English Channel and was known to be the first man to do this stint.
• The first European Amateur Swimming Competition was done in Vienna in 1882
• King Ludwig II of Bavaria built swimming pool in the castle of Liderh in 1879
• Synchronized swimming started in the 19th century
• the first Synchronized swimming competition was done in 1891 in Berlin to a men’s event only
• In 1896, an all-male competition was done during the Olympic Games in Athens.
• In 1897, Capt. Henry Sheffield designed a rescue can or cylinder which is popularly known nowadays as the lifesaving device in Baywalsh.
• An obstacle swimming course in the Seine River
• Father Chirino, a Spanish priest historian in his book, “Relacion delos Islas Filipinos” showed that Filipino men and women and even children swam like fishes. Filipinos take baths in the rivers and lakes at any time of the day for cleanliness and for recreation purposes.
• In 1907, the first swimming pool in the country was constructed at Fort Mckinley YMCA.
• The first Dual Swimming Meet in 1910 between Manila YMCA and Fort Mckinley YMCA marked the formal competition of swimming as a competitive sport in the Philippines.