Benefits of swimming

Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation,
sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and
the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that results in directional motion. Humans can hold their
breath underwater and undertake rudimentary locomotive swimming within weeks of birth, as a
survival response.[1]
Swimming is consistently among the top public recreational activities,[2][3][4][5] and in some
countries, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the educational curriculum.[6] As a formalized
sport, swimming is featured in a range of local, national, and international competitions, including
every modern Summer Olympics.
Swimming involves repeated motions known as strokes in order to propel the body forward. While
the front crawl, also known as freestyle, is widely regarded as the fastest out of four primary strokes,
other strokes are practiced for special purposes, such as for training.
There are various risks present during swimming, mainly due to it taking place in water. Swimmers
are at risk of incapacitation due to panic and exhaustion, which may cause death due to drowning.
Other dangers include getting an infection or contact with hostile aquatic fauna. To minimize these
risks, most facilities employ a lifeguard to look for signs of distress.
Swimmers often wear specialized swimwear, although depending on the culture of the area, some
swimmers may also swim nude or wear their day attire. In addition to this, a variety of equipment can
be used to enhance the swimming experience or performance, including but not limited to the use
of swimming goggles, floatation devices, swim fins, and snorkels.

Science[edit]

Swimmers perform squats prior to entering the pool in a U.S. military base, 2011.

Swimming relies on the nearly neutral buoyancy of the human body. On average, the body has
a relative density of 0.98 compared to water, which causes the body to float. However, buoyancy
varies on the basis of body composition, lung inflation, muscle and fat content, centre of gravity and
the salinity of the water. Higher levels of body fat and saltier water both lower the relative density of
the body and increase its buoyancy. Human males tend to have a lower centre of gravity and higher
muscle content, therefore find it more difficult to float or be buoyant. See also: Hydrostatic weighing.
Since the human body is less dense than water, water is able to support the weight of the body
during swimming. As a result, swimming is “low-impact” compared to land activities such as running.
The density and viscosity of water also create resistance for objects moving through the
water. Swimming strokes use this resistance to create propulsion, but this same resistance also
generates drag on the body.
Hydrodynamics is important to stroke technique for swimming faster, and swimmers who want to
swim faster or exhaust less try to reduce the drag of the body's motion through the water. To be
more hydrodynamically effective, swimmers can either increase the power of their strokes or reduce
water resistance, though power must increase by a factor of three to achieve the same effect as
reducing resistance.[7] Efficient swimming by reducing water resistance involves a horizontal water
position, rolling the body to reduce the breadth of the body in the water, and extending the arms as
far as possible to reduce wave resistance.[7]
Just before plunging into the pool, swimmers may perform exercises such as squatting. Squatting
helps in enhancing a swimmer's start by warming up the thigh muscles.[8][clarification needed]

Infant swimming[edit]
Main article: Infant swimming
Human babies demonstrate an innate swimming or diving reflex from newborn until the age of
approximately 6 months.[9] Other mammals also demonstrate this phenomenon (see mammalian
diving reflex). The diving response involves apnea, reflex bradycardia, and
peripheral vasoconstriction; in other words, babies immersed in water spontaneously hold their
breath, slow their heart rate, and reduce blood circulation to the extremities (fingers and toes).
[9]
 Because infants are innately able to swim, classes for babies of about 6 months old are offered in
many locations. This helps build muscle memory and makes strong swimmers from a young age.

Technique[edit]
See also: Swimming stroke
Swimming can be undertaken using a wide range of styles, known as 'strokes,' and these strokes
are used for different purposes, or to distinguish between classes in competitive swimming. It is not
necessary to use a defined stroke for propulsion through the water, and untrained swimmers may
use a 'doggy paddle' of arm and leg movements, similar to the way four-legged animals swim.
There are four main strokes used in competition and recreation swimming: the front crawl, also
known as freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. Competitive swimming in Europe started
around 1800, mostly using the breaststroke. In 1873, John Arthur Trudgen introduced the trudgen to
Western swimming competitions.[10] Butterfly was developed in the 1930s, and was considered a
variant of the breaststroke until accepted as a separate style in 1953.[11] Butterfly is considered the
hardest stroke by many people, but it is the most effective for all-around toning and the building of
muscles.[12] It also burns the most calories and can be the second fastest stroke if practiced regularly.
[12]

In non-competitive swimming, there are some swimming strokes including sidestroke. The

sidestroke toward the end of the 19th century, this pattern was changed by raising one arm above
the water first, then the other, and then each in turn. It is still used in lifesaving and recreational
swimming.
Other strokes exist for particular reasons such as training, school lessons, and rescue, and it is often
possible to change strokes to avoid using parts of the body, either to separate specific body parts,
such as swimming with only arms or legs to exercise them harder, or for amputees or those affected
by paralysis.

History[edit]
Main article: History of swimming
Timurid conqueror Babur's troops swim across a river.

Swimming has been recorded since prehistoric times, and the earliest records of swimming date
back to Stone Age paintings from around 7,000 years ago. Written references date from 2000 BC.
Some of the earliest references include the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Odyssey,
the Bible (Ezekiel 47:5, Acts 27:42, Isaiah 25:11), Beowulf, and other sagas.
The coastal tribes living in the volatile[clarification needed] Low Countries were known as excellent swimmers
by the Romans. Men and horses of the Batavi tribe could cross the Rhine without losing formation,
according to Tacitus. Dio Cassius describes one surprise tactic employed by Aulus Plautius against
the Celts at the Battle of the Medway:[13]
The [British Celts] thought that Romans would not be able to cross it without a bridge, and
consequently bivouacked in rather careless fashion on the opposite bank; but he sent across a
detachment of [Batavii], who were accustomed to swim easily in full armour across the most
turbulent streams. ... Thence the Britons retired to the river Thames at a point near where it empties
into the ocean and at flood-tide forms a lake. This they easily crossed because they knew where the
firm ground and the easy passages in this region were to be found, but the Romans in attempting to
follow them were not so successful. However, the [Batavii] swam across again and some others got
over by a bridge a little way up-stream, after which they assailed the barbarians from several sides
at once and cut down many of them.
In 1538, Nikolaus Wynmann, a Swiss–German professor of languages, wrote the earliest known
complete book about swimming, Colymbetes, sive de arte natandi dialogus et festivus et iucundus
lectu (The Swimmer, or A Dialogue on the Art of Swimming and Joyful and Pleasant to Read).[14]

Purpose[edit]
There are many reasons why people swim, from swimming as a recreational pursuit to swimming as
a necessary part of a job or other activity. Swimming may also be used to rehabilitate injuries,
especially various cardiovascular and muscle injuries. People may also pursue swimming as a
career or field of interest. Some may be gifted and choose to compete professionally and go onto
claim fame.

Recreation[edit]

Children's bathing beach, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 1905
Many swimmers swim for recreation, with swimming consistently ranking as one of the physical
activities people are most likely to take part in. Recreational swimming can also be used for
exercise, relaxation or rehabilitation.[15] The support of the water, and the reduction in impact, makes
swimming accessible for people who are unable to undertake activities such as running. Swimming
is one of the most relaxing activities, water is known to calm us and can help reduce stress.

Health[edit]
Chuck Sketch, a former U.S. Marine and a Wounded Warrior with the veteran swim team, swims laps during a
practice session at the 2012 Marine Corps Trials at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, February
14, 2012. Wounded Warriors, veterans, and allies competed in the second annual trials, which included
swimming.

Swimming is primarily a cardiovascular/aerobic exercise[16] due to the long exercise time, requiring a

constant oxygen supply to the muscles, except for short sprints where the muscles work
anaerobically. Furthermore, swimming can help tone and strengthen muscles.[17] Swimming allows
sufferers of arthritis to exercise affected joints without worsening their symptoms. However,
swimmers with arthritis may wish to avoid swimming breaststroke, as improper technique can
exacerbate arthritic knee pain.[18] As with most aerobic exercise, swimming reduces the harmful
effects of stress. Swimming is also effective in improving health for people with cardiovascular
problems and chronic illnesses. It is proven to positively impact the mental health of pregnant
women and mothers. Swimming can even improve mood.[19] Although many forms of physical activity
have been shown to improve bone density and health, this is where swimming has its downfalls. Due
to the low-impact nature of the sport, studies have demonstrated that bone mass acquisition will be
negatively impacted, which could be an issue for adolescent athletes in particular.[20]
Disabled swimmers[edit]
Since 2010, the Americans with Disabilities Act has required that swimming pools in the United
States be accessible to disabled swimmers.[21]
Elderly swimmers[edit]
"Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving quality of life and decreasing disability.
It also improves or maintains the bone health of post-menopausal women."[22] Swimming is an ideal
workout for the elderly, as it is a low-impact sport with very little risk of injury. Exercise in the water
works out all muscle groups, helping with conditions such as muscular dystrophy which is common
in seniors. It is also a common way to relieve pain from arthritis.

Sport[edit]
Main article: Swimming (sport)

Start of the 4 × 100 meters men's relay during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

Swimming as a sport predominantly involves participants competing to be the fastest over a given
distance in a certain period of time. Competitors swim different distances in different levels of
competition. For example, swimming has been an Olympic sport since 1896, and the current
program includes events from 50 m to 1500 m in length, across all four main strokes and medley.
During the season competitive swimmers typically train several times a week, this is in order to
preserve fitness as well as promoting overload in training. Furthermore when the cycle of work is
completed swimmers go through a stage called taper where intensity is reduced in preparation for
racing, during taper power and feel in the water are concentrated.
The sport is governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), and
competition pools for FINA events are 25 or 50 meters in length. In the United States, a pool 25
yards in length is commonly used for competition.
Other swimming and water-related sporting disciplines include open water
swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, triathlon, and the modern pentathlon.

Safety[edit]
Main article: Drowning
As a popular leisure activity done all over the world, one of the primary risks of swimming
is drowning. Drowning may occur from a variety of factors, from swimming fatigue to simply
inexperience in the water. From 2005 to 2014, an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings
occurred in the United States, approximating 10 deaths a day.[23]
To minimize the risk and prevent potential drownings from occurring, lifeguards are often employed
to supervise swimming locations such as pools, waterparks, lakes and beaches. Different lifeguards
receive different training depending on the sites that they are employed at; i.e. a waterfront lifeguard
receives more rigorous training than a poolside lifeguard. Well-known aquatic training services
include the National Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Red Cross, which specialize in training
lifeguards in North America.

Occupation[edit]
Some occupations require workers to swim, such as abalone and pearl diving, and spearfishing.
Swimming is used to rescue people in the water who are in distress, including exhausted swimmers,
non-swimmers who have accidentally entered the water, and others who have come to harm on the
water. Lifeguards or volunteer lifesavers are deployed at many pools and beaches worldwide to fulfil
this purpose, and they, as well as rescue swimmers, may use specific swimming styles for rescue
purposes.
Swimming is also used in marine biology to observe plants and animals in their natural habitat. Other
sciences use swimming; for example, Konrad Lorenz swam with geese as part of his studies
of animal behavior.
Swimming also has military purposes. Military swimming is usually done by special operation forces,
such as Navy SEALs and US Army Special Forces. Swimming is used to approach a location,
gather intelligence, engage in sabotage or combat, and subsequently depart. This may also include
airborne insertion into water or exiting a submarine while it is submerged. Due to regular exposure to
large bodies of water, all recruits in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are
required to complete basic swimming or water survival training.
Swimming is also a professional sport. Companies sponsor swimmers who have the skills to
compete at the international level. Many swimmers compete competitively to represent their home
countries in the Olympics. Professional swimmers may also earn a living as entertainers, performing
in water ballets.

Locomotion[edit]
Locomotion by swimming over brief distances is frequent when alternatives are precluded. There
have been cases of political refugees swimming in the Baltic Sea[24] and of people jumping in the
water and swimming ashore from vessels not intended to reach land where they planned to go.[25]

Risks[edit]
See also: Swimming injuries

A sign warns hikers on the trail to Hanakapiai Beach.

Man smiling to camera while ice swimming at a summer cottage in Finland

There are many risks associated with voluntary or involuntary human presence in water, which may
result in death directly or through drowning asphyxiation. Swimming is both the goal of much
voluntary presence and the prime means of regaining land in accidental situations.
Most recorded water deaths fall into these categories:
 Panic occurs when an inexperienced swimmer or a nonswimmer becomes mentally
overwhelmed by the circumstances of their immersion, leading to sinking and drowning.
Occasionally, panic kills through hyperventilation, even in shallow water.
 Exhaustion can make a person unable to sustain efforts to swim or tread water, often leading to
death through drowning. An adult with fully developed and extended lungs has generally positive
or at least neutral buoyancy, and can float with modest effort when calm and in still water. A
small child has negative buoyancy and must make a sustained effort to avoid sinking rapidly.
 Hypothermia, in which a person loses critical core temperature, can lead to unconsciousness or
heart failure.
 Dehydration from prolonged exposure to hypertonic salt water—or, less frequently, salt water
aspiration syndrome where inhaled salt water creates foam in the lungs that restricts breathing—
can cause loss of physical control or kill directly without actual drowning. Hypothermia and
dehydration also kill directly, without causing drowning, even when the person wears a life vest.
 Blunt trauma in a fast moving flood or river water can kill a swimmer outright, or lead to their
drowning.
Adverse effects of swimming can include:

 Exostosis, an abnormal bony overgrowth narrowing the ear canal due to frequent, long-term
splashing or filling of cold water into the ear canal, also known as surfer's ear
 Infection from water-borne bacteria, viruses, or parasites
 Chlorine inhalation (in swimming pools)
 Heart attacks while swimming (the primary cause of sudden death among triathlon participants,
occurring at the rate of 1 to 2 per 100,000 participations.[26])
 Adverse encounters with aquatic life:
o Stings from sea lice, jellyfish, fish, seashells, and some species of coral
o Puncture wounds caused by crabs, lobsters, sea urchins, zebra mussels, stingrays, flying
fish, sea birds, and debris
o Hemorrhaging bites from fish, marine mammals, and marine reptiles, occasionally resulting
from predation
o Venomous bites from sea snakes and certain species of octopus
o Electrocution or mild shock from electric eels and electric rays
Around any pool area, safety equipment is often important, and is a zoning requirement for most
residential pools in the United States.[27] Supervision by personnel trained in rescue techniques is
required at most competitive swimming meets and public pools.

Lessons[edit]

A Styrofoam flotation aid being used

Main article: Swimming lessons

Traditionally, children were considered not able to swim independently until 4 years of age,
[28]
 although now infant swimming lessons are recommended to prevent drowning.[29]
In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Finland, the curriculum for the fifth grade (fourth grade in
Estonia) states that all children should learn how to swim as well as how to handle emergencies
near water. Most commonly, children are expected to be able to swim 200 metres (660 ft)—of which
at least 50 metres (160 ft) on their back – after first falling into deep water and getting their head
under water. Even though about 95 percent of Swedish school children know how to swim, drowning
remains the third most common cause of death among children.[citation needed]
In both the Netherlands and Belgium swimming lessons under school time (schoolzwemmen, school
swimming) are supported by the government. Most schools provide swimming lessons. There is a
long tradition of swimming lessons in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Dutch translation for the
breaststroke swimming style is even schoolslag (schoolstroke). In France, swimming is a
compulsory part of the curriculum for primary schools. Children usually spend one semester per year
learning swimming during CP/CE1/CE2/CM1 (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade).
In many places, swimming lessons are provided by local swimming pools, both those run by the
local authority and by private leisure companies. Many schools also include swimming lessons into
their Physical Education curricula, provided either in the schools' own pool or in the nearest public
pool.
In the UK, the "Top-ups scheme" calls for school children who cannot swim by the age of 11 to
receive intensive daily lessons. Children who have not reached Great Britain's National Curriculum
standard of swimming 25 meters by the time they leave primary school receive a half-hour lesson
every day for two weeks during term-time.[30]
In Canada and Mexico there has been a call to include swimming in public school curriculum.[31]
In the United States there is the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)[32] initiative that provides lessons
for infant children, to cope with an emergency where they have fallen into the water. They are taught
how to roll-back-to-float (hold their breath underwater, to roll onto their back, to float unassisted, rest
and breathe until help arrives), while clothed and unclothed. In ISR they teach the children how to
roll with their clothes on, as a simulation, if they were to actually fall in walking or crawling by.
In Switzerland, swimming lessons for babies are popular, to help them getting used to be in another
element. At the competition level, unlike in other countries - such as the Commonwealth countries,
swimming teams are not related to educational institutions (high-schools and universities), but rather
to cities or regions.

Clothing and equipment[edit]

Swimsuits[edit]
Boardshorts, a type of men's casual swimwear

A man and woman in competitive swimwear during a synchronised swimming event

Standard everyday clothing is usually impractical for swimming and is unsafe under some
circumstances. Most cultures today expect swimmers to wear swimsuits.
Men's swimsuits commonly resemble shorts, or briefs. Men's casual swimsuits (for
example, boardshorts) are rarely skintight, unlike competitive swimwear, like jammers or diveskins.
In most cases, boys and men swim with their upper body exposed, except in countries where
custom or law prohibits it in a public setting, or for practical reasons such as sun protection.
Modern women's swimsuits are generally skintight, covering the pubic region and
the breasts (See bikini). Women's swimwear may also cover the midriff as well. Women's swimwear
is often a fashion statement, and whether it is modest or not is a subject of debate by many groups,
religious and secular.
Different cultures have different standards for swimsuits. In Muslim communities, women may choose to
wear Hijab modified swimsuits, sometimes called burkini.

Competitive swimwear is built so that the wearer can swim faster and more efficiently. Modern
competitive swimwear is skintight and lightweight. There are many kinds of competitive swimwear for
each gender. It is used in aquatic competitions, such as water polo, swim racing, diving, and rowing.
Wetsuits provide both thermal insulation and flotation. Many swimmers lack buoyancy in the leg. The
wetsuit provides additional volume at a lower density and therefore improves buoyancy and trim
while swimming. It provides insulation between the skin and water which reduces heat loss. The
wetsuit is the usual choice for those who swim in cold water for long periods of time, as it reduces
susceptibility to hypothermia.
Some people also choose to wear no clothing while swimming; this is known as skinny dipping. In
some European countries public pools have naturist sessions to allow clothes-free swimming and
many countries have naturist beaches where one can swim naked. It is legal to swim naked in the
sea at all UK beaches. It was common for males to swim naked in a public setting up to the early
20th century. Today, skinny dipping can be a rebellious activity or merely a casual one.

Accessories[edit]
 Ear plugs can prevent water from getting in the ears.
 Noseclips can prevent water from getting in the nose. However, using noseclips in competitive
swimming can cause disadvantage, so many competitive swimmer choose not to use one. For
this reason, nose clips are primarily used for synchronized swimming and recreational
swimming.
 Goggles protect the eyes from chlorinated water, and improve underwater visibility. Tinted
goggles protect the eyes from sunlight that reflects from the bottom of the pool.
 Swim caps keep the body streamlined and protect the hair from chlorinated water, though they
are not entirely watertight.
 Kickboards are used to keep the upper body afloat while exercising the lower body.
 Pull buoys are used to keep the lower body afloat while exercising the upper body.
 Swimfins are used in training to elongate the kick and improve technique and speed. Fins also
build upper calf muscles. Fins provide a significantly greater and more efficient conversion of
muscle power to thrust than available from the feet, and allow the powerful leg muscles to be
used effectively for propulsion through water. The value of fins as an active aid in the teaching,
learning and practice of swimming has long been recognised. In the US, as early as 1947, they
were used experimentally to build the confidence of reluctant beginners in swimming,[33] while a
1950 YMCA lifesaving and water safety manual reminded swimming instructors how "flippers
can be used to great advantage for treading water, surface diving, towing, underwater searching
and supporting a tired swimmer".[34] In 1967, research was conducted on fin use in teaching the
 crawl stroke.[35] During the 1970s, the so-called "flipper-float" method came into vogue in Europe
with the aim of helping beginners learn to swim faster and more safely,[36]
 Hand paddles are used to increase resistance during arm movements, with the goal of
improving technique and power.
 Finger paddles have a similar effect to handle paddles however due to their smaller size create
less resistance. They also help with improving a swimmers 'catch' in the water.
 Snorkels are used to help improve and maintain a good head position in the water. They may
also be used by some during physical therapy.
 Pool noodles are used to keep the user afloat during the time in the water.
 Safety fencing and equipment is mandatory at public pools and a zoning requirement at most
residential pools in the United States.[37]
 Swimming Parachutes are used in competitive training, adding an element of resistance in the
water helping athletes to increase power in the strokes central movements.
 Inflatable armbands are swimming aids designed to provide buoyancy for the swimmer which
helps the wearer to float.
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation,
sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and
the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that results in directional motion. Humans can hold their
breath underwater and undertake rudimentary locomotive swimming within weeks of birth, as a
survival response.[1]
Swimming is consistently among the top public recreational activities,[2][3][4][5] and in some
countries, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the educational curriculum.[6] As a formalized
sport, swimming is featured in a range of local, national, and international competitions, including
every modern Summer Olympics.
Swimming involves repeated motions known as strokes in order to propel the body forward. While
the front crawl, also known as freestyle, is widely regarded as the fastest out of four primary strokes,
other strokes are practiced for special purposes, such as for training.
There are various risks present during swimming, mainly due to it taking place in water. Swimmers
are at risk of incapacitation due to panic and exhaustion, which may cause death due to drowning.
Other dangers include getting an infection or contact with hostile aquatic fauna. To minimize these
risks, most facilities employ a lifeguard to look for signs of distress.
Swimmers often wear specialized swimwear, although depending on the culture of the area, some
swimmers may also swim nude or wear their day attire. In addition to this, a variety of equipment can
be used to enhance the swimming experience or performance, including but not limited to the use
of swimming goggles, floatation devices, swim fins, and snorkels.

Science[edit]

Swimmers perform squats prior to entering the pool in a U.S. military base, 2011.

Swimming relies on the nearly neutral buoyancy of the human body. On average, the body has
a relative density of 0.98 compared to water, which causes the body to float. However, buoyancy
varies on the basis of body composition, lung inflation, muscle and fat content, centre of gravity and
the salinity of the water. Higher levels of body fat and saltier water both lower the relative density of
the body and increase its buoyancy. Human males tend to have a lower centre of gravity and higher
muscle content, therefore find it more difficult to float or be buoyant. See also: Hydrostatic weighing.
Since the human body is less dense than water, water is able to support the weight of the body
during swimming. As a result, swimming is “low-impact” compared to land activities such as running.
The density and viscosity of water also create resistance for objects moving through the
water. Swimming strokes use this resistance to create propulsion, but this same resistance also
generates drag on the body.
Hydrodynamics is important to stroke technique for swimming faster, and swimmers who want to
swim faster or exhaust less try to reduce the drag of the body's motion through the water. To be
more hydrodynamically effective, swimmers can either increase the power of their strokes or reduce
water resistance, though power must increase by a factor of three to achieve the same effect as
reducing resistance.[7] Efficient swimming by reducing water resistance involves a horizontal water
position, rolling the body to reduce the breadth of the body in the water, and extending the arms as
far as possible to reduce wave resistance.[7]
Just before plunging into the pool, swimmers may perform exercises such as squatting. Squatting
helps in enhancing a swimmer's start by warming up the thigh muscles.[8][clarification needed]

Infant swimming[edit]
Main article: Infant swimming

Human babies demonstrate an innate swimming or diving reflex from newborn until the age of
approximately 6 months.[9] Other mammals also demonstrate this phenomenon (see mammalian
diving reflex). The diving response involves apnea, reflex bradycardia, and
peripheral vasoconstriction; in other words, babies immersed in water spontaneously hold their
breath, slow their heart rate, and reduce blood circulation to the extremities (fingers and toes).
[9]
 Because infants are innately able to swim, classes for babies of about 6 months old are offered in
many locations. This helps build muscle memory and makes strong swimmers from a young age.

Technique[edit]
See also: Swimming stroke

Swimming can be undertaken using a wide range of styles, known as 'strokes,' and these strokes
are used for different purposes, or to distinguish between classes in competitive swimming. It is not
necessary to use a defined stroke for propulsion through the water, and untrained swimmers may
use a 'doggy paddle' of arm and leg movements, similar to the way four-legged animals swim.
There are four main strokes used in competition and recreation swimming: the front crawl, also
known as freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. Competitive swimming in Europe started
around 1800, mostly using the breaststroke. In 1873, John Arthur Trudgen introduced the trudgen to
Western swimming competitions.[10] Butterfly was developed in the 1930s, and was considered a
variant of the breaststroke until accepted as a separate style in 1953.[11] Butterfly is considered the
hardest stroke by many people, but it is the most effective for all-around toning and the building of
muscles.[12] It also burns the most calories and can be the second fastest stroke if practiced regularly.
[12]

In non-competitive swimming, there are some swimming strokes including sidestroke. The

sidestroke toward the end of the 19th century, this pattern was changed by raising one arm above
the water first, then the other, and then each in turn. It is still used in lifesaving and recreational
swimming.
Other strokes exist for particular reasons such as training, school lessons, and rescue, and it is often
possible to change strokes to avoid using parts of the body, either to separate specific body parts,
such as swimming with only arms or legs to exercise them harder, or for amputees or those affected
by paralysis.

History[edit]
Main article: History of swimming

Timurid conqueror Babur's troops swim across a river.

Swimming has been recorded since prehistoric times, and the earliest records of swimming date
back to Stone Age paintings from around 7,000 years ago. Written references date from 2000 BC.
Some of the earliest references include the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Odyssey,
the Bible (Ezekiel 47:5, Acts 27:42, Isaiah 25:11), Beowulf, and other sagas.
The coastal tribes living in the volatile[clarification needed] Low Countries were known as excellent swimmers
by the Romans. Men and horses of the Batavi tribe could cross the Rhine without losing formation,
according to Tacitus. Dio Cassius describes one surprise tactic employed by Aulus Plautius against
the Celts at the Battle of the Medway:[13]
The [British Celts] thought that Romans would not be able to cross it without a bridge, and
consequently bivouacked in rather careless fashion on the opposite bank; but he sent across a
detachment of [Batavii], who were accustomed to swim easily in full armour across the most
turbulent streams. ... Thence the Britons retired to the river Thames at a point near where it empties
into the ocean and at flood-tide forms a lake. This they easily crossed because they knew where the
firm ground and the easy passages in this region were to be found, but the Romans in attempting to
follow them were not so successful. However, the [Batavii] swam across again and some others got
over by a bridge a little way up-stream, after which they assailed the barbarians from several sides
at once and cut down many of them.
In 1538, Nikolaus Wynmann, a Swiss–German professor of languages, wrote the earliest known
complete book about swimming, Colymbetes, sive de arte natandi dialogus et festivus et iucundus
lectu (The Swimmer, or A Dialogue on the Art of Swimming and Joyful and Pleasant to Read).[14]

Purpose[edit]
There are many reasons why people swim, from swimming as a recreational pursuit to swimming as
a necessary part of a job or other activity. Swimming may also be used to rehabilitate injuries,
especially various cardiovascular and muscle injuries. People may also pursue swimming as a
career or field of interest. Some may be gifted and choose to compete professionally and go onto
claim fame.
Recreation[edit]

Children's bathing beach, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 1905

Many swimmers swim for recreation, with swimming consistently ranking as one of the physical
activities people are most likely to take part in. Recreational swimming can also be used for
exercise, relaxation or rehabilitation.[15] The support of the water, and the reduction in impact, makes
swimming accessible for people who are unable to undertake activities such as running. Swimming
is one of the most relaxing activities, water is known to calm us and can help reduce stress.

Health[edit]
Chuck Sketch, a former U.S. Marine and a Wounded Warrior with the veteran swim team, swims laps during a
practice session at the 2012 Marine Corps Trials at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, February
14, 2012. Wounded Warriors, veterans, and allies competed in the second annual trials, which included
swimming.

Swimming is primarily a cardiovascular/aerobic exercise[16] due to the long exercise time, requiring a

constant oxygen supply to the muscles, except for short sprints where the muscles work
anaerobically. Furthermore, swimming can help tone and strengthen muscles.[17] Swimming allows
sufferers of arthritis to exercise affected joints without worsening their symptoms. However,
swimmers with arthritis may wish to avoid swimming breaststroke, as improper technique can
exacerbate arthritic knee pain.[18] As with most aerobic exercise, swimming reduces the harmful
effects of stress. Swimming is also effective in improving health for people with cardiovascular
problems and chronic illnesses. It is proven to positively impact the mental health of pregnant
women and mothers. Swimming can even improve mood.[19] Although many forms of physical activity
have been shown to improve bone density and health, this is where swimming has its downfalls. Due
to the low-impact nature of the sport, studies have demonstrated that bone mass acquisition will be
negatively impacted, which could be an issue for adolescent athletes in particular.[20]
Disabled swimmers[edit]
Since 2010, the Americans with Disabilities Act has required that swimming pools in the United
States be accessible to disabled swimmers.[21]
Elderly swimmers[edit]
"Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving quality of life and decreasing disability.
It also improves or maintains the bone health of post-menopausal women."[22] Swimming is an ideal
workout for the elderly, as it is a low-impact sport with very little risk of injury. Exercise in the water
works out all muscle groups, helping with conditions such as muscular dystrophy which is common
in seniors. It is also a common way to relieve pain from arthritis.

Sport[edit]
Main article: Swimming (sport)
Start of the 4 × 100 meters men's relay during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

Swimming as a sport predominantly involves participants competing to be the fastest over a given
distance in a certain period of time. Competitors swim different distances in different levels of
competition. For example, swimming has been an Olympic sport since 1896, and the current
program includes events from 50 m to 1500 m in length, across all four main strokes and medley.
During the season competitive swimmers typically train several times a week, this is in order to
preserve fitness as well as promoting overload in training. Furthermore when the cycle of work is
completed swimmers go through a stage called taper where intensity is reduced in preparation for
racing, during taper power and feel in the water are concentrated.
The sport is governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), and
competition pools for FINA events are 25 or 50 meters in length. In the United States, a pool 25
yards in length is commonly used for competition.
Other swimming and water-related sporting disciplines include open water
swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, triathlon, and the modern pentathlon.

Safety[edit]
Main article: Drowning

As a popular leisure activity done all over the world, one of the primary risks of swimming
is drowning. Drowning may occur from a variety of factors, from swimming fatigue to simply
inexperience in the water. From 2005 to 2014, an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings
occurred in the United States, approximating 10 deaths a day.[23]
To minimize the risk and prevent potential drownings from occurring, lifeguards are often employed
to supervise swimming locations such as pools, waterparks, lakes and beaches. Different lifeguards
receive different training depending on the sites that they are employed at; i.e. a waterfront lifeguard
receives more rigorous training than a poolside lifeguard. Well-known aquatic training services
include the National Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Red Cross, which specialize in training
lifeguards in North America.

Occupation[edit]
Some occupations require workers to swim, such as abalone and pearl diving, and spearfishing.
Swimming is used to rescue people in the water who are in distress, including exhausted swimmers,
non-swimmers who have accidentally entered the water, and others who have come to harm on the
water. Lifeguards or volunteer lifesavers are deployed at many pools and beaches worldwide to fulfil
this purpose, and they, as well as rescue swimmers, may use specific swimming styles for rescue
purposes.
Swimming is also used in marine biology to observe plants and animals in their natural habitat. Other
sciences use swimming; for example, Konrad Lorenz swam with geese as part of his studies
of animal behavior.
Swimming also has military purposes. Military swimming is usually done by special operation forces,
such as Navy SEALs and US Army Special Forces. Swimming is used to approach a location,
gather intelligence, engage in sabotage or combat, and subsequently depart. This may also include
airborne insertion into water or exiting a submarine while it is submerged. Due to regular exposure to
large bodies of water, all recruits in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are
required to complete basic swimming or water survival training.
Swimming is also a professional sport. Companies sponsor swimmers who have the skills to
compete at the international level. Many swimmers compete competitively to represent their home
countries in the Olympics. Professional swimmers may also earn a living as entertainers, performing
in water ballets.

Locomotion[edit]
Locomotion by swimming over brief distances is frequent when alternatives are precluded. There
have been cases of political refugees swimming in the Baltic Sea[24] and of people jumping in the
water and swimming ashore from vessels not intended to reach land where they planned to go.[25]

Risks[edit]
See also: Swimming injuries

A sign warns hikers on the trail to Hanakapiai Beach.

Man smiling to camera while ice swimming at a summer cottage in Finland

There are many risks associated with voluntary or involuntary human presence in water, which may
result in death directly or through drowning asphyxiation. Swimming is both the goal of much
voluntary presence and the prime means of regaining land in accidental situations.
Most recorded water deaths fall into these categories:

 Panic occurs when an inexperienced swimmer or a nonswimmer becomes mentally

overwhelmed by the circumstances of their immersion, leading to sinking and drowning.
Occasionally, panic kills through hyperventilation, even in shallow water.
 Exhaustion can make a person unable to sustain efforts to swim or tread water, often leading to
death through drowning. An adult with fully developed and extended lungs has generally positive
or at least neutral buoyancy, and can float with modest effort when calm and in still water. A
small child has negative buoyancy and must make a sustained effort to avoid sinking rapidly.
 Hypothermia, in which a person loses critical core temperature, can lead to unconsciousness or
heart failure.
 Dehydration from prolonged exposure to hypertonic salt water—or, less frequently, salt water
aspiration syndrome where inhaled salt water creates foam in the lungs that restricts breathing—
can cause loss of physical control or kill directly without actual drowning. Hypothermia and
dehydration also kill directly, without causing drowning, even when the person wears a life vest.
 Blunt trauma in a fast moving flood or river water can kill a swimmer outright, or lead to their
drowning.
Adverse effects of swimming can include:

 Exostosis, an abnormal bony overgrowth narrowing the ear canal due to frequent, long-term
splashing or filling of cold water into the ear canal, also known as surfer's ear
 Infection from water-borne bacteria, viruses, or parasites
 Chlorine inhalation (in swimming pools)
 Heart attacks while swimming (the primary cause of sudden death among triathlon participants,
occurring at the rate of 1 to 2 per 100,000 participations.[26])
 Adverse encounters with aquatic life:
o Stings from sea lice, jellyfish, fish, seashells, and some species of coral
o Puncture wounds caused by crabs, lobsters, sea urchins, zebra mussels, stingrays, flying
fish, sea birds, and debris
o Hemorrhaging bites from fish, marine mammals, and marine reptiles, occasionally resulting
from predation
o Venomous bites from sea snakes and certain species of octopus
 o Electrocution or mild shock from electric eels and electric rays
Around any pool area, safety equipment is often important, and is a zoning requirement for most
residential pools in the United States.[27] Supervision by personnel trained in rescue techniques is
required at most competitive swimming meets and public pools.

Lessons[edit]

A Styrofoam flotation aid being used

Main article: Swimming lessons

Traditionally, children were considered not able to swim independently until 4 years of age,
[28]
 although now infant swimming lessons are recommended to prevent drowning.[29]
In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Finland, the curriculum for the fifth grade (fourth grade in
Estonia) states that all children should learn how to swim as well as how to handle emergencies
near water. Most commonly, children are expected to be able to swim 200 metres (660 ft)—of which
at least 50 metres (160 ft) on their back – after first falling into deep water and getting their head
under water. Even though about 95 percent of Swedish school children know how to swim, drowning
remains the third most common cause of death among children.[citation needed]
In both the Netherlands and Belgium swimming lessons under school time (schoolzwemmen, school
swimming) are supported by the government. Most schools provide swimming lessons. There is a
long tradition of swimming lessons in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Dutch translation for the
breaststroke swimming style is even schoolslag (schoolstroke). In France, swimming is a
compulsory part of the curriculum for primary schools. Children usually spend one semester per year
learning swimming during CP/CE1/CE2/CM1 (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade).
In many places, swimming lessons are provided by local swimming pools, both those run by the
local authority and by private leisure companies. Many schools also include swimming lessons into
their Physical Education curricula, provided either in the schools' own pool or in the nearest public
pool.
In the UK, the "Top-ups scheme" calls for school children who cannot swim by the age of 11 to
receive intensive daily lessons. Children who have not reached Great Britain's National Curriculum
standard of swimming 25 meters by the time they leave primary school receive a half-hour lesson
every day for two weeks during term-time.[30]
In Canada and Mexico there has been a call to include swimming in public school curriculum.[31]
In the United States there is the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)[32] initiative that provides lessons
for infant children, to cope with an emergency where they have fallen into the water. They are taught
how to roll-back-to-float (hold their breath underwater, to roll onto their back, to float unassisted, rest
and breathe until help arrives), while clothed and unclothed. In ISR they teach the children how to
roll with their clothes on, as a simulation, if they were to actually fall in walking or crawling by.
In Switzerland, swimming lessons for babies are popular, to help them getting used to be in another
element. At the competition level, unlike in other countries - such as the Commonwealth countries,
swimming teams are not related to educational institutions (high-schools and universities), but rather
to cities or regions.

Clothing and equipment[edit]

Swimsuits[edit]

Boardshorts, a type of men's casual swimwear

A man and woman in competitive swimwear during a synchronised swimming event

Standard everyday clothing is usually impractical for swimming and is unsafe under some
circumstances. Most cultures today expect swimmers to wear swimsuits.
Men's swimsuits commonly resemble shorts, or briefs. Men's casual swimsuits (for
example, boardshorts) are rarely skintight, unlike competitive swimwear, like jammers or diveskins.
In most cases, boys and men swim with their upper body exposed, except in countries where
custom or law prohibits it in a public setting, or for practical reasons such as sun protection.
Modern women's swimsuits are generally skintight, covering the pubic region and
the breasts (See bikini). Women's swimwear may also cover the midriff as well. Women's swimwear
is often a fashion statement, and whether it is modest or not is a subject of debate by many groups,
religious and secular.

Different cultures have different standards for swimsuits. In Muslim communities, women may choose to
wear Hijab modified swimsuits, sometimes called burkini.

Competitive swimwear is built so that the wearer can swim faster and more efficiently. Modern
competitive swimwear is skintight and lightweight. There are many kinds of competitive swimwear for
each gender. It is used in aquatic competitions, such as water polo, swim racing, diving, and rowing.
Wetsuits provide both thermal insulation and flotation. Many swimmers lack buoyancy in the leg. The
wetsuit provides additional volume at a lower density and therefore improves buoyancy and trim
while swimming. It provides insulation between the skin and water which reduces heat loss. The
wetsuit is the usual choice for those who swim in cold water for long periods of time, as it reduces
susceptibility to hypothermia.
Some people also choose to wear no clothing while swimming; this is known as skinny dipping. In
some European countries public pools have naturist sessions to allow clothes-free swimming and
many countries have naturist beaches where one can swim naked. It is legal to swim naked in the
sea at all UK beaches. It was common for males to swim naked in a public setting up to the early
20th century. Today, skinny dipping can be a rebellious activity or merely a casual one.

Accessories[edit]
 Ear plugs can prevent water from getting in the ears.
 Noseclips can prevent water from getting in the nose. However, using noseclips in competitive
swimming can cause disadvantage, so many competitive swimmer choose not to use one. For
this reason, nose clips are primarily used for synchronized swimming and recreational
swimming.
 Goggles protect the eyes from chlorinated water, and improve underwater visibility. Tinted
goggles protect the eyes from sunlight that reflects from the bottom of the pool.
 Swim caps keep the body streamlined and protect the hair from chlorinated water, though they
are not entirely watertight.
 Kickboards are used to keep the upper body afloat while exercising the lower body.
 Pull buoys are used to keep the lower body afloat while exercising the upper body.
 Swimfins are used in training to elongate the kick and improve technique and speed. Fins also
build upper calf muscles. Fins provide a significantly greater and more efficient conversion of
muscle power to thrust than available from the feet, and allow the powerful leg muscles to be
used effectively for propulsion through water. The value of fins as an active aid in the teaching,
learning and practice of swimming has long been recognised. In the US, as early as 1947, they
 were used experimentally to build the confidence of reluctant beginners in swimming,[33] while a
1950 YMCA lifesaving and water safety manual reminded swimming instructors how "flippers
can be used to great advantage for treading water, surface diving, towing, underwater searching
and supporting a tired swimmer".[34] In 1967, research was conducted on fin use in teaching the
crawl stroke.[35] During the 1970s, the so-called "flipper-float" method came into vogue in Europe
with the aim of helping beginners learn to swim faster and more safely,[36]
 Hand paddles are used to increase resistance during arm movements, with the goal of
improving technique and power.
 Finger paddles have a similar effect to handle paddles however due to their smaller size create
less resistance. They also help with improving a swimmers 'catch' in the water.
 Snorkels are used to help improve and maintain a good head position in the water. They may
also be used by some during physical therapy.
 Pool noodles are used to keep the user afloat during the time in the water.
 Safety fencing and equipment is mandatory at public pools and a zoning requirement at most
residential pools in the United States.[37]
 Swimming Parachutes are used in competitive training, adding an element of resistance in the
water helping athletes to increase power in the strokes central movements.
 Inflatable armbands are swimming aids designed to provide buoyancy for the swimmer which
helps the wearer to float.