Introduction

Swimming, in recreation and sports, the propulsion of the body

through water by combined arm and leg motions and the natural
flotation of the body. Swimming as an exercise is popular as an
all-around body developer and is particularly useful in therapy
and as exercise for physically handicapped persons.
History
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.
Competitive Swimming

Internationally, competitive swimming came into prominence

with its inclusion in the modern Olympic Games from their
inception in 1896. Olympic events were originally only for men,
but women’s events were added in 1912.

Instruction And Training

The earliest instruction programs were in Great Britain in the

19th century, both for sport and for lifesaving. Those programs
were copied in the rest of Europe.

Strokes

The earliest strokes to be used were the sidestroke and

the breaststroke. The sidestroke was originally used with both
arms submerged.
 Races

In competition there are freestyle races at distances of 50, 100,

200, 400, 800, and 1,500 metres; backstroke, breaststroke, and
butterfly races at 100 metres and 200 metres; individual medley
races at 200 metres and 400 metres; the freestyle relays, 4 × 100
metres and 4 × 200 metres; and the medley relay, 4 × 100
metres.

Distance Swimming

Any swimming competition longer than 1,500 metres (1,640

yards) is considered distance swimming. In 1954 a group of
amateur and professional marathon swimmers formed the
Fédération Internationale de Natation Longue Distance.