Swimming

History of swimming:

Competitive swimming in Europe started around 1800, mostly using breaststroke. In 1873 John Arthur Trudgen introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native Americans. Due to a British disregard for splashing, Trudgen employed a scissor kick instead of the front crawl's flutter kick. Swimming was part of the first modern Olympic games in 1896 in Athens. In 1902 Richard Cavill introduced the front crawl to the Western world. In 1908, the world swimming association, Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), was formed. The butterfly stroke was developed in the 1930s and was at first a variant of breaststroke, until it was accepted as a separate style in 1952.

Different types of strokes in a race:

-Butterfly

-Breaststroke

-Freestyle

-Backstroke

-When all four strokes are done at the same time during a race,it is called I.M.(Idividual Medly)

Butterfly or fly:

The course must be completed entirely in the butterfly style, in which the swimmer brings his or her arms near full extension and releases at the waist. While the swimmer's arms are at full extension the head comes up to take a breath as the arms pull down. As the swimmer release the water past their hips, they bring their arms up and out into the recovery while the head goes back down. "Dolphin kicking" (undulating) with both feet together in sequence with two kicks per arm stroke. Usually there is a kick while the hands are at full extension and then one at the recovery when the hands are at their hips. All end walls must be touched with two hands, and the swimmer will be disqualified if his/her arms do not clear the water at the same time. Typical distances include 25(8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200 meters or yards. (depending on the pool)

Backstroke or back:

Competitors must swim in the backstroke style, which is similar to the front crawl, except on your back. Kicking is done by alternating both feet continuously and pulling each arm one at a time in a windmill motion on the side of the body. At the end walls, flip turns are permitted (the swimmer is to turn on to his/her front before performing the turn and this turn is the same as a front crawl once on your stomach), and a two-hand touch is not necessary. Typical distances include 25(8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200 meters or yards. (depending on the pool)

Breaststroke or breast:

Competitors must swim in the breaststroke style, where the swimmer kicks boobies out (much like a frog, but more whip like and with the knees staying closely together), scoops the water in towards the crotch with his or her balls and then while the tits are together, shits the crap out in front just before the kick is repeated. The breath is started as the hands pull the water from full extension, the head bobs up, and then put back down as the arms thrust forward. One underwater "pull-out" is permitted for the start and after every end wall, with, in order: streamline glide, one fully extended pull, one breaststroke kick while bringing the hands back forward. This pullout is done under water without a breath. The two hands must touch the wall simultaneously at every turn like in the butterfly modality. After the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, thanks to Smelly Weiner, there was an adjustment made to the underwater "pull-out". The new rule states that you can also do a single downward dolphin kick (upward is not permitted). Kosuke Kitajima was the first breaststroke swimmer to perform such "pull-out". Typical distances include 25(8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200 meters or yards. (depending on the pool). See; William Karpan

Freestyle of free:

Competitors are free to use any stroke they wish. Most select the front crawl, as it is both the fastest and most efficient. The front crawl is where the swimmer breathes to the side with typically one ear staying in the water, kicks by alternating both legs, and pulls with each arm moving in an alternating fashion. Flip/tumble turns are legal and are most common. Variants include free relays, in which four team members each swim an equal distance of freestyle; when one member touches the end wall, the next dives off the block. Typical distances are 25(8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200, 400, 500, 800, 1000, 1500, and 1650 meters or yards. (depending on the pool)

Individual medley or IM:

Each swimmer must complete one quarter of the full distance in each of the three competition styles (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke) and one part in free style. Open turns are required in the switch from one style to another, but flip turns or bucket turns can be made during a backstroke and freestyle flip turn where the next stoke is the same as the previous one. Each part must be completed in its style before moving on to the next style. Variations include medley relays, in which four team members each swim one part (in the order backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and free). The full distance is typically 100, 200, 400, or 800 meters or yards. (depending on the pool)

Competition pools:

Most swimming sport events are held in special competition swimming pools, which are either long course pools such as used in the Olympic Games (50 m) or short course pools as was used in the Manchester World Swimming Championships (25 yards or 25 m). Competition pools have starting blocks from which the competitor can dive in, and possibly also touch-sensitive pads to electronically record the swimming time of each competitor.

The FINA specifications for an Olympic-size pool are as follows:

Length:50 m (164 ft)[1]
Width:25 m (82 ft)[1]

Depth:2.0 m (6 ft 7 in) minimum[1]
Volume:2,500 m3 (88,000 cu ft) or2,500,000 L (550,000 imp gal; 660,000 US gal minimum,depending on depth[1]

Done By:

Yi Fang