What is swimming?

Swimming is an activity that involves coordination of arm and leg motions to propel your body
through water.
When Did Swimming Originate?
Swimming has been an activity practiced throughout history, from the first humans until the
modern day. Thousands of years ago, swimming had very practical purposes, such as finding
food to avoid starvation, traveling from place to place, and bathing. Swimming was also a
recreational and exercise activity throughout the ancient world.
Who invented swimming?
SWIMMING HISTORY
2500 BC - First organized swimming occurs in Ancient Egypt
800 BC – The ancient Greeks use swimming pools for bathing exercise.
100 BC – The Ancient Romans use swimming pools and bathhouses for communal recreation
1830s- Swimming competitions begin to be held in Britain.
1837 - The National Swimming Society is formed in Britain
1846 - Australia holds its first championships
1873 - Invention of the front crawl by John Trudgen
1888- The Amateur Athletic Union is founded in the United States of America
1896 - First modern Olympic occurs (Athens) and swimming became popular
At the time of the first modern Olympics there were only four events: two 100-meter events, a
500-meter event, and a 1200-meter.
1900 - The backstroke is added as an event at the Olympics
1912 - Women’s swimming events are added to the Olympics
1924 - Swimming becomes an official NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sport
1956 - The butterfly stroke is first introduced to the Olympics
1976 - Goggles begin to be used for Olympic swimming competitions
1981- Women’s swimming becomes an official NCAA sport (United states, Canada, Puerto
Rico)
2008 - Michael Phelps wins eight Olympic gold medals in swimming over the course of a single
Olympics
Basic Skills in Swimming
1. Breathing (Timing and Endurance)
In swimming, you need to breathe out with both your nose and mouth when your head is
underwater. Then when you lift your head to the side take a full breath before putting your
face back down. This is a frequently overlooked basic skill, but it is an important one.
2. Floating
Before you start kicking and stroking, first learn to float in the water. Floating helps you
to get used to the habit of moving through water properly. Floating helps to keep your
body on the surface of the water. Our body experiences a vertical buoyant force when
immersed in water and floating helps to keep your body in a horizontal position. Floating
is important because if you accidentally fall in the water, you will be able to float on the
surface till you are rescued.

Basic Floats

1. Survival Float
The survival float uses very little energy, making it ideal for situations when you don't
know how long you'll need to stay afloat. Lie on your stomach with your face underwater
and your arms and legs dangling. When you need to breathe, bring your head back up and
out of the water while pushing down with your arms and legs. After you take in a breath,
hold it and relax completely for a few seconds to drop back into the water. When you
need to breathe again, exhale as you bring your face back up out of the water.
2. Horizontal Back Float
When performing the horizontal back float, you don't use much energy, and you stay
comfortable. In the horizontal back float, you lie on your back in the water with your
back slightly arched, your arms out to the sides and your legs straight. Your face won't go
underwater and your legs, if relaxed, will float.
3. Vertical Back Float
In the vertical back float, like in the horizontal back float, your face remains above the
water; however, in the vertical back float, less of your body floats above the water. While
your upper chest and your face stay out of the water, your legs drop down below the
surface. Keep your arms extended, and kick only when it becomes necessary to stay
afloat.
4. Treading water
Although it's technically not a type of floating, treading water makes it easy to transition
between floating positions. Because your head remains completely above the water's
surface, treading water is ideal in situations where you need to look at your surroundings.
Keeping your arms outstretched, move them slowly just under the surface of the water
while performing scissor kicks to stay afloat.
 5. Tuck Float
The tuck float is assumed face down in water, the head is held in-line with the trunk, and
legs are flexed or tucked under the chest where they are grasped by the hands.

3. Coordination
In swimming, all your body parts should be well coordinated with each other. You must
be able to move the muscles of your lower back, abdomen, and hips in a synchronized
way to keep moving forward. Your hands should move and cut through the water first,
followed by your elbow and then your body should make way through the water.
4. Kicking
Kicking is another important skill to learn if you want to master swimming. Kicking
helps your body to move in the forward direction.

The Three Main Kicks in Swimming

1. The flutter kick used with front crawl / freestyle and backstroke.
2. The scissor kick used with breaststroke.
3. The dolphin kick used with the butterfly.

5. Strokes
Now that you know how to float and kick, it is time to learn some strokes. Strokes are the
arm movements that help to pull the body through the water. The front crawl, butterfly,
breaststroke, and backstroke are some of the common swimming strokes.

1. Freestyle
Also known as the front crawl, freestyle is the fastest and most efficient competitive
swimming stroke. Often referred to as a long-axis stroke, the technique for swimming
freestyle is maintaining a fully horizontal, face-down position. The head remains in a
neutral position except for each time the swimmer takes a breath.
The arm stroke and body position work in tandem with the body rolling gently from one
side to the other along with the arm that is pulling out of the water for a full stroke and
taking a breath. Finally, swimmers get a great deal of power from the flutter kick, which
involves a continuous up and down kicking motion with pointed toes that elongate the
body in the water.
 2. Backstroke
The backstroke is the only stroke not performed facing downward. This stroke is another
long-axis stroke that uses many of the same principles and body positioning as the front
crawl or freestyle but performed on one’s back.
With the swimmer’s face looking up at the sky or ceiling, it’s essential to maintain head
and hip alignment or else the hips will drop and the swimmer will lose proper position,
speed and efficiency. The arm pull is the reverse of the freestyle, focusing on the thumb
exiting the water first and the pinky entering the water first, slicing the water.

3. Breaststroke
The basic principle behind swimming the breaststroke is summed up in the mantra: pull,
breathe, kick and glide. One of the most important aspects of understanding breaststroke,
performed in a face-down position, is the glide, which takes place at the beginning and
end of each stroke cycle. The arm pulls features four phases: glide, out sweep, in sweep
and recovery, while the leg motion is like a frog’s kick.
Kids and beginner breaststroke swimmers frequently use kickboards and other teaching
tools to fine-tune their practice.
4. Butterfly
Many swimmers look in awe at butterfly swimmers, wondering how to do butterfly
stroke with such ease and grace. It’s a complex stroke that requires coordination, strength
and practice.
In a face-down position, the swimmer starts with their head in a neutral position, their
arms shoulder-width apart and their palms facing down. The swimmer pulls both arms
down, out and over the surface of the water simultaneously while performing a dolphin
kick with both legs together.

Things you should know:

• The Philippine Swimming Incorporated (PSI) is the national governing body for
swimming and other aquatic sports in the Philippines.
• It is accredited by the International Swimming Federation (Federation Internationale de
Natation or FINA) which is the governing body for the sport of Swimming in the world,
and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Olympic Size Pool
• Length = 50 meters (164.0 ft)
• Width = 25.0 meters (82.0 ft)
• Depth = A minimum depth of 1.35 meters, extending from 1.0 meter to at least 6.0
meters from the end wall is required for
• pools with starting blocks. A minimum depth of meter is required elsewhere.
• Volume of water = 2,500,000 L (550,000 galloon)
• LANES - 10 lanes at least 2.5 meters wide, with two spaces of at least 0.2 meter outside
of the first and last lanes.
• Kickboard
supports your arms and upper body, letting them rest so you can devote your focus and
energy to training your leg technique.
• Pull buoy
are a form of swimming assistance foam usually placed between the thighs to enhance
swimming performance. With a bull buoy, your legs and hips can maintain buoyancy and
stay afloat. Swimmers can reduce the rate at which they kick and focus more on their
swimming technique.
• Paddles
are most used for swimmers looking to develop their upper body strength as they work
the muscles in the back, chest, arms and shoulders. They do this by stopping the water
from flowing through your fingers, allowing you to perform your arm pull with more
power.
• Fin/Flippers
these are swim accessories you wear on your feet to improve your technique and
performance.
• Googles
help swimmers see clearly underwater, minimize glare, increase comfort and protect the
eyes from water and any chemicals.
• Swimming Cap
a tight rubber cap worn while swimming
1. Protects your hair
2. Keeps Hair out of the Pool
3. Prevents Hair from Getting in Your Face
4. Eliminates Drag so you can swim faster

Reference:
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/saint-paul-university-philippines/readings-in-
philippine-history/a-brief-history-of-swimming/17226509
https://www.rookieroad.com/swimming/history/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/5-basic-swimming-
skills-everyone-needs-to-learn/articleshow/70619726.cms