How is swimming played in the Olympics?

How is swimming played in the Olympics?

Men and women now compete in 16 events, involving four different strokes across a range of distances. Freestyle races cover 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 10,000m; the 800m is for women only and the 1,500m for men only. The butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke races each cover 100m and 200m.

How is swimming sport played?

Swimmers move their arms in semi circular motion, one after the other, to push water towards their legs. While they catch water with one arm the other arm recovers. They kick water with pointed toes and try to reduce drag by keeping their legs as straight as possible.

Why is swimming so important in the Olympics?

For the most part, swimming is a beloved sport to only swimmers. Watching the Olympians compete at the highest level of their sport inspires swimmers and non-swimmers alike to become more invested in the sport. Here is why the Olympic Games help the sport.

Is swimming Olympic sport?

Swimming has featured on the programme of all editions of the Games since 1896. The very first Olympic events were freestyle (crawl) or breaststroke. Women’s swimming became Olympic in 1912 at the Stockholm Games. Since then, it has been part of every edition of the Games.

What is the sport swimming called?

Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with varied distance events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley. In addition to these individual events, four swimmers can take part in either a freestyle or medley relay.

What are the different swimming events in the Olympic competitions?

Swimming Events

• freestyle: 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.
• backstroke: 100m and 200m.
• breaststroke: 100m and 200m.
• butterfly: 100m and 200m.
• medley: 200m and 400m.
• freestyle relay: 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m.
• medley relay: 4 x 100m (men, women, mixed)
• open water: 10km.

Why is swimming a popular sport?

It helps toddlers and children develop their water awareness survival skills by learning to float, learning to tread water and breath in water. Swimming develops key muscle & motor skills from 6 weeks old. Swimming is available all year, whatever the weather. Swimming helps build self esteem, aids concentration.

When did swimming become a sport?

The sport made its debut at the Olympic Games in 1896 and has featured on the sport roster ever since. Changes to the number of events in terms of strokes, distances and programmes for both male and female competitors have changed substantially over the years.

How did the sport swimming start?

Archaeological and other evidence shows swimming to have been practiced as early as 2500 bce in Egypt and thereafter in Assyrian, Greek, and Roman civilizations. In Greece and Rome swimming was a part of martial training and was, with the alphabet, also part of elementary education for males.

What kind of swimming is in the Olympics?

Swimming at the Olympics: Strokes. Individual races are now held in four strokes at the Olympics as well as a combination of the four called individual medley (IM). Click the links to find out more about the history of the individual swimming strokes: Front Crawl (Freestyle) Backstroke.

Which is the most popular sport in the Olympics?

Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with varied distance events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley. In addition to these individual events, four swimmers can take part in either a freestyle or medley relay.

What are the four strokes of swimming at the Olympics?

Swimming at the Olympics: Strokes. Individual races are now held in four strokes at the Olympics as well as a combination of the four called individual medley (IM). Click the links to find out more about the history of the individual swimming strokes: Front Crawl (Freestyle) Backstroke. Breaststroke. Butterfly. Individual Medley.

When did open water swimming become an Olympic sport?

Open-water swimming. Open water swimming is swimming outside a regular pool, usually in a lake, or sometimes ocean. Popularity of the sport has grown in recent years, particularly since the 10 km open water event was added as an Olympic event in 2005, contested for the first time in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.