Competitive Swimming History

Though the act of swimming has been a staple of movement for countless centuries, only during the 19th century and the revival of international Olympic competitions that competitive swimming has gained international popularity. This is due in no small part to the international standardization of competition (in large part because of the Olympics) and the development of new techniques and equipment.

Goals

Competitive swimming is a contest. The winner is the swimmer or team to cover a set distance in a smaller amount of time than any other swimmers or teams. Pools used for competitive swimming are divided horizontally into lanes. Each swimmer or team is designated on lane, and may not cross into any other lane.

History

Paintings of humans' engaging in the act of swimming date to the stone age, around 7000 years ago.

"The Swimmer," published in 1538, is the first known book on the subject of swimming.

Origins and Development

Competitive swimming became popular on the international stage during the nineteenth century.

The first four Olympic swimming competitions were held in open water.

The 1896 Olympic swimming events were held in the Mediterranean Sea.

The 1900 Olympic swimming events were held in the Seine River.

The 1904 Olympic swimming events were held in an artificial lake.

The 1906 Olympic swimming events were held again in the Mediterranean Sea.

Electronic timing devices were used for the first time during the 1912 Olympics.

The standard 50 Meter swimming pool, used in all subsequent Olympic competitions, was first used in the 1924 Olympics.

Diving blocks were introduced during the 1936 Olympics.

The "flip turn," a technique used by swimmer to reverse direction at the end of a pool, was developed during the 1950's

Swimming Goggles were first used during the 1976 Olympics.

Competitive Swimwear

Modern competitive swimwear improves upon human skin by reducing a swimmers drag signature while in the water.

Advances in competitive swimwear have resulted in faster world record swimming times in every swimming event recognized by the IOC.

Types

Humans do not swim instinctively. Swimming is a learned activity.

Four strokes are recognized during international competition: the butterfly, the backstroke, the breaststroke, and the front crawl (freestyle).

The front crawl is widely acknowledged as the fast stroke by which a human can swim.