Swimming

Swimming

- is the self propulsion of a person through water or other liquid, for survival, recreation, sport, exercise or other reason. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs, the body, or both. Humans are able to hold their breath underwater and undertake rudimentary locomotive swimming within weeks of birth, as an evolutionary response.

Brief History of Swimming

Though humans have been swimming for millennia, competitive swimming has only existed for about 150 years. From its roots in England to the modern-day popularity of Olympian Michael Phelps, competitive swimming has made a name for itself as a sport and spectator event.

The Early Years

In the early 1800s, swimming clubs developed in Britain for young men to showcase their skills. These men used a form of breaststroke and always kept their heads above the water. In a London swimming competition in 1844, two Native Americans named Flying Gull and Tobacco bested English competitors by using a stroke that would later become known as the crawl stroke, which had been used by Native Americans and Hawaiians for thousands of years. Though this was much faster than the English technique, Europeans did not adopt it because they viewed the stroke’s splashing as undignified. It was reintroduced to Britain in 1873, when it was finally recognized as an improvement over the slow breaststroke.
The Olympics
Swimming clubs became more popular throughout the 1800s, but it was the Olympics that truly made swimming a competitive sport. Over the years, Olympic swimming events branched out to include different strokes, longer distances, and women’s events. In the mid-twentieth century, the butterfly stroke was developed as an alternative to the breaststroke, though they were later defined as separate events.
Modern Times

In the past few decades, swimmers have benefitted from the introduction of synthetic materials, which allow them to swim faster. New training regimens have also increased speeds, giving the world Olympic superstars like Michael Phelps. Through careful analysis of the physics of swimming and maximizing force under water, swimmers and coaches have turned the sport into an art and a science.

Different Swimming Strokes

1. The Crawl or Freestyle
- The technique involved in this swimming stroke is pretty simple. You float on your belly in the water, and propel yourself by rotating your arms in a windmill motion, and kick your legs in a fluttering motion. The hardest part of this swimming technique is the coordination of the breathing while performing the strokes, since the face remains in the water almost all the time.

2. The Backstroke
- The backstroke is akin to the crawl, except that you float on your back in the water. The arms are moved in a similar alternating windmill motion, and the legs a kicked in a similarly fluttering motion. The two basic techniques of a correct backstroke are: One, that the arms are moved with equal force, or else you will find yourself swimming off towards one side; Two, that the body should be rolled from one side to the other, so that the arms extend to their utmost reach, to propel you by catching enough water.

3. The Breaststroke
- This swimming technique involves a pattern wherein the body bobs upwards and downwards as you propel yourself forward in the water. The breaststroke is a difficult swimming technique, and should not be chosen if you are just beginning to learn swimming. Basically, this swimming stroke involves pulling your arms through the water, as you bob up and breathe, and then kicking with your legs as you bob down and glide forward. The arm pulling and the leg kicking are done alternatively.

4. The Butterfly Stroke
- Similar to the breaststroke, the butterfly is also a difficult swimming technique, and not advocated for beginning learners, since it involves a fair amount of strength as well as precise timing. While performing this stroke, the legs should be moved together akin to the movements of a dolphin’s tail, the arms should also be moved together, pushing the water downwards and then backwards, while the torso moves forward in an undulating manner.

5. Side Stroke
- This kind of swimming is not included in any competitive swimming events, but still has a great value. This swimming style is very effective once getting hold on the drowning victim, as it requires only one arm that acts like an oar and a leg to perform. Here the swimmer lies on one’s side with asymmetric arm and leg motion with a leg performing scissor kick kind of movement. The style of swimming requires less energy and is mostly used in long distance swimming.

Clothing and Equipment

Swimsuits
- is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.

Women’s | Men’s | Unisex | One Piece
- Probably the most common form of one-piece swimsuit, the tank suit form is inspiration for the subsequent creation of the tank top as a mainstream article of clothing. The name "tank suit" is also supposed to be derived from the term "swimming tank", an obsolete term for what is now called a swimming pool. | Swim Briefs or Speedos
- Swim briefs are now often made of a nylon and spandex composite, while some longer lasting suits are made from polyester. The style varies from a full seat tothong or g-string. Most swim briefs have a beige or white lining on the inside front made of a similar fabric. | Rash Guard
- A type of athletic shirt made of spandex and nylon or polyester. Rash guards may be worn as an alternative to wetsuits during warmer weather. They may also offer UV protection. | Bikini or Two Piece
- One piece covers the breasts, the other the groin and buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Bikinis are available in many stylistic variations. | Trunks
- Trunks are the most popular type of male swimsuit in North America. They vary in style and design, though most are made of nylon with a mesh lining for quick drying. | Wet Suit
- is a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, which is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports, providing thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy. | Tankini
- Two-piece covers the breasts and stomach (like a tank top), the other the groin and buttocks. Leaves a small gap in between the belly button and the hips. | Square Leg Suits
- A swimwear style similar to swim briefs, but with a much more conservative cut. They can be compared to boxer briefs but with nylon/spandex composite or polyester fabric. | Dry Suits
- Provides thermal insulation to the wearer while immersed in water, and is worn by divers, boaters, water sports enthusiasts, and others who work or play in or near cold water. It normally protects the whole body except the head, hands, and possibly the feet. | Monokini
- was originally a topless swimsuit that exposed the female breasts and in modern designs features large cut-outs at the sides, front and back. | Jammer
- A type of men's swimwear worn primarily by competitive athletes, somewhat resembling cycling shorts or compression shorts. | Drag Suits
- A pair of shorts or any loose shirts worn over a swimmer's inner swimsuit to increase resistance against the water and build up the swimmer's endurance. | Burqini
- Covers the whole body and head (but not face) in a manner similar to a diver's wetsuit. | Fundoshi- A traditional Japanese style of underwear, sometimes worn as swimwear. | Racing Suits
- Swimsuits made of technologically advanced fabrics biomimetic ally designed with a surface that mimics the rough shark denticles to reduce drag along key areas of the body. The characteristics of the fabric improve shape retention and increase muscle compression to reduce vibration and retain muscle shape to reduce fatigue and power loss. Available in a variety of cuts such as body skin, leg skin and knee skin. |

Swimming Accessories:

- Earplugs - can prevent water from getting in the ears.
- Nose clips - can prevent water from getting in the nose. However, this is generally only used for synchronized swimming. Using nose clips in competitive swimming can cause a disadvantage to most swimmers. It is for this reason that nose clips are only used for synchronized swimming and recreational swimming.
- Goggles - protect the eyes from chlorinated water, and can 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.
- Swimming floats and swimming boards - are used for training or exercise purposes. Kickboards are used to keep the upper body afloat while exercising the lower body. A pull buoy is used to keep the lower body afloat while exercising the upper body.
- Swim fins - are used to elongate the kick and improve technique and speed. Fins also build upper calf muscles.
- Safety fencing and equipment - is mandatory at public pools and a zoning requirement at most residential pools in the United States.

List of Famous Swimmers

Filipino:

1. Johansen Aguilar – Represented the Philippines in the 2011 SEA Games.

2. Jasmine Alkhaldi – Represented the Philippines in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

3. Ryan Arabejo – Represented the Philippines in the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2007 World Championships, 2006 and 2010 Asian Games and 2006, 2009 and 2011 SEA Games.

4. Joseph Eric Buhain – Represented the Philippines in the 1985, 1988, 1991 and 1993 SEA Games and 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics.

5. Dionisio Calvo – Represented the Philippines in the 1921 and 1923 Far Eastern Games.

6. Daniel Coakley – Represented the Philippines in the 2007 SEA Games.

7. Enchong Dee – Represented the Philippines in the 2005 SEA Games and 2006 Asian Games.

8. Dorothy Grace Hong – Represented the Philippines in the 2009 and 2011 SEA Games.

9. Christine Jacob – Represented the Philippines in the 1983 SEA Games and 1984 Summer Olympics.

10. Jessie Lacuna – Represented the Philippines in the 2009 and 2011 SEA Games, 2010 Asian Games and 2012 Summer Olympics.

11. Agapito Lozada – Represented the Philippines in the 1956 Summer Olympics.

12. Miguel Mendoza – Represented the Philippines in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.

13. Miguel Molina – Represented the Philippines in the 2003, 2005 and 2007 SEA Games, 2006 and 2010 Asian games and 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.

14. Gerardo Rosario – Represented the Philippines in the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.

15. Christel Simms – Represented the Philippines in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

16. Akiko Thomson – Represented the Philippines in the 1987 and 1991 SEA Games and 1988, 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

17. Kendrick Uy – Represented the Philippines in the 2007 and 2009 SEA Games.

18. Christian William Walker – Represented the Philippines in the 2009 SEA Games.

19. James Walsh – Represented the Philippines in the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games and 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.

20. Teofilo Yldefonso – Represented the Philippines in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics. Best known as the First Filipino Olympic medalist.

Foreign:

1. Matt Biondi – is an American swimmer who competed in the Summer Olympic Games in 1984, 1988 and 1992, winning a total of eleven medals (eight gold, two silver and one bronze).

2. Krisztina Egerszegi – is a Hungarian swimmer who competed in the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics wherein she bagged 5 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

3. Missy Franklin – is an American competition swimmer and four-time Olympic gold medalist.

4. Dawn Fraser – is an Australian swimmer who competed in the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics wherein she collected 4 gold and 4 silver.

5. Shane Gould – is an Australian former swimmer who won three gold medals, a silver and bronze in 1972 Summer Olympics.

6. Grant Hackett – is an Australian former swimmer most famous for winning the men's 1500 meters freestyle race at both the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

7. Penny Haynes – is a former South African swimmer, who is best known for being the only woman in the history of the Olympic Games to have won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events - at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games making her South Africa's first post-apartheid Olympic gold medalist following South Africa's re-admission to the Games in 1992.

8. Michael Klim – is a Polish-born Australian swimmer who won 1 bronze, 3 silver and 2 gold in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.

9. Ryan Lochte - is an American competitive swimmer and an eleven-time Olympic medalist (five gold, three silver, three bronze).

10. Kristin Otto – is a German Olympic swimming champion. She is most famous for being the first woman to win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games, doing so at the 1988 Seoul Olympic games.

11. Denis Pankratov – is a retired Russian butterfly swimmer of the 1990s, who was best known for winning the butterfly double at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA in a unique style.

12. Federica Pellegrini – is an Italian swimmer who won 1 silver in the 2004 Summer Olympics and 1 gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

13. Michael Phelps – is a retired American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 22 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals (18, double the second highest record holders), Olympic gold medals in individual events (11), and Olympic medals in individual events for a male (13).

14. Stephanie Rice – is an Australian swimmer. She won three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

15. Rebecca Soni – is an American competition swimmer who is a breaststroke specialist and six-time Olympic medalist.

16. Mark Spitz – is an American former swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics, an achievement only surpassed by Michael Phelps who won eight gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

17. Jenny Thompson – is an American former competition swimmer, and one of the most decorated Olympians in history, winning twelve medals, including eight gold medals, in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.

18. Ian James Thorpe – is an Australian swimmer who specializes in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

19. Pieter van den Hoogenband – is a Dutch former swimmer and a triple Olympic champion.

20. Johnny Weissmuller – was an American swimmer who won 3 gold medals during the 1924 Summer Olympics and 2 gold medals in the 1928 Summer Olympics.