SUAZO Swimming Strokes History

Republic of The Philippines
Central Mindanao University

University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, 8714
College of Education
Department of Physical Education
Crawl Stroke History
By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo
(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
While swimming specialists have traced the history of front crawl back
to the Stone Age, The Times newspaper claimed the earliest mention of the
stroke in a competitive context in 1844. Flying Gull and Tobacco, two native
Americans who were invited to swim in a race in London, were supposed to
be lashing the water aggressively with their arms like windmill sails and
hammering downward with their feet. The stroke and its differences from
breaststroke, which was the only competitive stroke employed in early
European swimming clubs, were known to stun observers. The term "front
crawl" is considered to have originated in the late 1800s, when Australian
swimmer Dick Cavill described his technique as "crawling through the water."
Another watershed moment in front crawl history occurred in 1922, when
Johnny Weissmuller became the first person to swim 100 meters’ freestyle in
under a minute. Because front crawl is the quickest of the four current
swimming strokes, it is nearly commonly used in competition swimming's
1
Crawl Stroke History
freestyle event. The Trudgen stroke, a mix of front crawl arm technique and
breaststroke leg kick named after English swimmer John Trudgen, was
utilized by the majority of freestyle swimmers at the first four Olympic
Games. After American Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku won gold in the 100m
Freestyle at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, a closer form of today's front
crawl became the norm in freestyle competitions.
Mark Lemuel L. Suazo
2
Back Stroke History
Backstroke swimming arose as a result of swimmers imitating the front
crawl's overarm technique on their backs. In the late 1930s, Australian
swimmers began to bend their arms for the underwater phase of the stroke,
which was one of the most significant breakthroughs in backstroke history.
This new technique was faster than pulling through the water with the usual
straight arm, and it quickly became the standard for competitive backstroke
swimming. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, another watershed moment
in the history of backstroke swimming occurred. David Berkhoff of the United
States qualified for the Games by adopting a backstroke start known as the
'Berkhoff blast-off,' in which he would use a dolphin kick underwater for as
long as possible, swimming faster than on the surface. The three medalists in
the 100m Backstroke final in Seoul — Daichi Suzuki of Japan, David Berkhoff
3
Back Stroke History
of the United States, and Igor Polianski of the Soviet Union - all swam
between 30m and 35m of their first length underwater with a dolphin kick.
FINA, the world governing body, responded by limiting the distance a
swimmer could stay submerged at the start of each length, first to 10m and
subsequently to 15m in 1991.
4
Breast Stroke History
Breaststroke was the most popular stroke in the 19th century
European competitive swimming contests. Breaststroke was surpassed as the
fastest swimming stroke by front crawl, but its popularity maintained, and a
separate breaststroke discipline was added to the Olympic Games for the
first time in 1904. The creation of the butterfly in the 1930s, when a number
of swimmers and coaches, particularly American David Armbruster, realized
it was faster to recover your arms ahead above the water rather than
underneath, was one of the most significant advances forward in the history
of breaststroke. Up until the 1950s, when the international governing body
FINA designated butterfly as a separate stroke with its own set of rules,
great breaststroke swimmers used this butterfly arm technique in
combination with breaststroke leg kick. Since then, breaststroke has
5
progressed in lockstep with FINA standards, which include the distance you
can swim underwater at the start and after

Breast Stroke History
each turn. Another significant development in breaststroke history occurred
in 1987, when the regulation requiring swimmers to keep their heads above
the water surface throughout the stroke was abolished. FINA allowed
swimmers to take one dolphin kick at the start and after each turn move in
2005, which is now nearly commonly used by international swimmers.
6
Butterfly Stroke History
The history of the butterfly stroke dates back to the 1930s, when it
was first established as a breaststroke swimming style. When swimmers and
coaches realized that recovering their arms forward above the water made
breaststroke faster, the arm technique – as well as the swimming word
'butterfly' – was established. While an overarm recovery was common as a
finishing stroke in breaststroke, American Henry Myers is credited with being
the first to employ butterfly arms for a full length of breaststroke, doing so in
a 150 yards medley race in 1933, much to the surprise of officials and
competitors. Shortly after, American swimming coach David Armbruster is
credited with inventing the well-known butterfly dolphin kick to go along with
the overarm recovery, with one of his swimmers, Jack Sieg, employing it to
devastating success in 1935. While the dolphin kick was against FINA's
breaststroke rules, the butterfly arm technique was nonetheless employed in
7
Butterfly Stroke History
breaststroke races until 1952, when FINA designated butterfly as an
individual stroke. In 1956, a men's 200m Butterfly event and a women's
100m Butterfly event were held at the Olympic Games for the first time in
Melbourne. Since then, the men's 200m Butterfly and women's 100m
Butterfly have been held at every Olympics, with the men's 100m Butterfly
and women's 200m Butterfly being added to the Olympic schedule in 1968 at
the Mexico City Games.

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Republic of The Philippines

Central Mindanao University

Crawl Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

Americans who were invited to swim in a race in London, were supposed to

breaststroke, which was the only competitive stroke employed in early

crawl" is considered to have originated in the late 1800s, when Australian

Another watershed moment in front crawl history occurred in 1922, when

swimming strokes, it is nearly commonly used in competition swimming's

Crawl Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

utilized by the majority of freestyle swimmers at the first four Olympic

Freestyle at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, a closer form of today's front

crawl became the norm in freestyle competitions.

Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

Back Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

Backstroke swimming arose as a result of swimmers imitating the front

crawl's overarm technique on their backs. In the late 1930s, Australian

which was one of the most significant breakthroughs in backstroke history.

swimming. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, another watershed moment

in the history of backstroke swimming occurred. David Berkhoff of the United

'Berkhoff blast-off,' in which he would use a dolphin kick underwater for as

Back Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

FINA, the world governing body, responded by limiting the distance a

subsequently to 15m in 1991.

Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

Breast Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

Breaststroke was the most popular stroke in the 19th century

European competitive swimming contests. Breaststroke was surpassed as the

of swimmers and coaches, particularly American David Armbruster, realized

of breaststroke. Up until the 1950s, when the international governing body

great breaststroke swimmers used this butterfly arm technique in

combination with breaststroke leg kick. Since then, breaststroke has

can swim underwater at the start and after

Republic of The Philippines

Breast Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

each turn. Another significant development in breaststroke history occurred

2005, which is now nearly commonly used by international swimmers.

Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

Butterfly Stroke History

By: Mark Lemuel L. Suazo

(BPED 63; MTWThF 2:30pm – 5:30pm)

was first established as a breaststroke swimming style. When swimmers and

breaststroke faster, the arm technique – as well as the swimming word

'butterfly' – was established. While an overarm recovery was common as a

finishing stroke in breaststroke, American Henry Myers is credited with being

competitors. Shortly after, American swimming coach David Armbruster is

breaststroke rules, the butterfly arm technique was nonetheless employed in