SWIMMING AQUATICS

• Brief history of swimming

  • Stone Age - Swimming can be dated back to this period
  • Nineteenth Century - Swimming evolved as a competitive sport after the construction of artificial public swimming pools
  • 1828 - St. Georges Baths, first public swimming pool constructed in England
  • 1837 - British swimming organization set up as National Swimming Society, conducting competitions in England
• Swimming introduced in the Olympic games in Athens as a men's sport, events were freestyle and breaststroke

  1896
• Backstroke added in the Olympic games

  1904
• World swimming association FINA (Federation International de Natation) introduced, recognized by the International Olympic Committee for competition in swimming and other aquatic sports

  1908
• Women's swimming became part of the Olympic games in Stockholm

  1912
• In the 1940s, breaststrokers discovered they could go faster by bringing both arms forward over their heads, but this practice was immediately forbidden in breaststroke
• Birth of butterfly stroke, which made its official appearance at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, and is now one of the four strokes used in competition

  1956
• Swimming events at the summer Olympic games all take place in 50 meter pools, with both men and women competing in 17 events
• Olympic swimming events


  • 50m freestyle
  • 100m backstroke
  • 200m butterfly
  • 100m freestyle
  • 200m backstroke
  • 4x200 freestyle relay
  • 200m freestyle
  • 100m breaststroke
  • 4x100 medley relay
  • 400m freestyle
  • 200m breaststroke
  • marathon 10km
  • 1500m freestyle for men
  • 200m individual medley
  • 800m freestyle for women
  • 400m individual medley
  • 100m butterfly
  • 4x100 freestyle relay
• Freestyle


  Also known as the front crawl, it is the fastest and most efficient competitive swimming stroke. Performed in a prone position with an alternate overhead arm stroke and flutter kick.
• Backstroke


  The only stroke not performed facing downward, swimmers can breathe easily but cannot see where they are heading. Performed in a supine position with an alternate overhead arm stroke and flutter kick.
• Breaststroke


  The oldest and slowest stroke, often used by long distance swimmers. Performed in a prone position with an outstretched arm movement and frog kick. Captain Matthew Webb was the first man to swim across the English Channel in 1875 using this stroke.
• Butterfly


  The most difficult and exhausting stroke, originated from the breaststroke. Performed in a prone position with a windmill or wave-like arm movement and dolphin kick.
• Sidestroke


  Performed in a sideward position with the head above the water, using only one arm with an asymmetrical underwater arm movement and a scissors kick.
• Trudgen


  A mix between the sidestroke and freestyle, performed in a prone position with an alternate overhead arm underwater movement and a scissors kick.
• Dog paddle


  Performed in a crouching prone position with both arms paddling underwater and a modified flutter kick.
• Relay events

  • Freestyle relay - each swimmer swims in any style other than backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
  • Medley relay - each swimmer swims a quarter of the total course length in a different style in the order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle
• Equipment in swimming

  • Swimming pool - at least 2 meters deep, divided into lanes at least 2.5 meters wide
  • Swimming starting blocks - each swimmer starts with a dive from these
  • Touch pad - swimmers touch it to record their time when finishing a lap
  • Starting pistol/gun - signal to start the race
  • Swim suits - men wear briefs or jammers, women cannot wear suits past their knees or shoulders
  • Swim cap - used to lock hair and reduce drag
  • Goggles - prevent water and chlorine from getting into the eyes
• FREESTYLE

  Postion = Prone Position

  Arm Movement = Alternative overhead arm stroke

  Kick = Flutter Kick
• BACKSTROKE

  POSITION = Supine Position

  ARM MOVEMENT = Alternative overhead arm stroke

  KICK = Flutter Kick
• BREASTROKE

  POSITION = Prone Position

  ARM MOVEMENT = Outstretched Arm Movement

  KICK = Frog Kick
• BUTTERFLY

  POSITION = Prone Position

  ARM MOVEMENT = Windmill

  KICK = Dolphin Kick
• SIDESTROKE

  POSITION = Sideward position

  ARM MOVEMENT = one arm with asymmetrical underwater arm movement

  KICK = Scissors Kick
• TRUDGEN

  POSITION = Prone Position

  ARM MOVEMENT = Alternative Overhead Arm

  KICK = Scissors Kick
• DOG PADDLE

  POSITION = Body in a crouching position

  ARM MOVEMENT = Paddling both arm

  KICK = Modified flutter kick
• Freestyle Relay - each swimmers swims in any style other than backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
• Medley Relay - each swimmer swim quarter of the total course length in a different style.