swimming

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Self-propulsion of the body through water. There are four strokes in competitive swimming: freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly. Distances of races vary between 50 and 1,500 metres. Olympic-size pools are 50 m/55 yd long and have eight lanes.

History
Swimming has been known since ancient times, in the training of Greek and Roman warriors. Competitive swimming is known to have taken place in Japan in 36 BC, and became compulsory in schools there in 1603. Fear of infection prevented Europeans from swimming during the Middle Ages, but during the late 19th century swimming pools with chlorine as a disinfectant began to be built at major schools and universities and by the early 20th century public pools were features of parks and clubs.

Strokes
The freestyle stroke (also known as front crawl) is the fastest stroke. It was developed by Australians from a South Sea island technique in the early 20th century. The breaststroke is the slowest of the four strokes and was developed in the 16th century. The backstroke was developed in the 1920s and, because the swimmer's head is out of the water, makes breathing easier. The newest and second fastest of the strokes is the butterfly, developed in the USA in the 1930s from the breaststroke. In races the swimmers enter the water with a ‘racing plunge’ (a form of dive) with the exception of the backstroke, when competitors start in the water.

Special types of swimming
Synchronized swimming is a form of ‘ballet’ performed in and under water and accompanied by music. Underwater swimming developed with the invention of such equipment as flippers, snorkel, and self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba). A related sport is diving.

Competitions
Swimming has been included in the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and 1912 for women. The world championships were introduced in 1973, later held in 1975 and 1978 and every four years since; from 1998 they have been held every two years. Synchronized swimming was introduced to the Olympics in 1984. Long-distance river/sea swimming races were introduced in 1991. Short-course competitive swimming – in 25-metre as opposed to 50-metre pools – grew in popularity in the 1990s. The World Short Course Championships were inaugurated in 1993 and have since taken place every two years. Separate world record lists are published for short- and long- (50-metre pools) course races. The sport is governed worldwide by La Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA; International Swimming Federation).

The ‘Sun of May’ was added in 1818. The blue bands are a shade known as ‘celeste’, said to be the colour of the sky which inspired Argentine revolutionary Manuel Belgrano before battle. Effective date: 16 August 1985. >>