Swimming ( sport ) Swimming is a water based sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation ( FINA ) . History . The sport of swimming has been recorded since prehistoric times ; the earliest recording of swimming dates back to Stone Age paintings from around 7 , 000 years ago . Written references date from 2000 BC . Some of the earliest references to swimming include the Gilgamesh , the Iliad , the Odyssey , the Bible , Beowulf , Quran and other sagas . In 1778 , Nikolaus Wynmann , a German professor of languages , wrote the first swimming book , The Swimmer or A Dialogue on the Art of Swimming ( Der Schwimmer oder ein Zweigespräch über die Schwimmkunst ) . Competitive swimming as we know it today started in the United States started around 1800 , mostly using breaststroke . Many Americans often used swimming competitions to settle differences in the frontier , such as property rights . In 1873 , John Arthur Trudgen introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions , after copying the front crawl used by Native Americans . Due to a British dislike of splashing , Trudgen employed a scissor kick instead of the front crawl ' s flutter kick . Swimming was part of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens . In 1902 Richmond Cavill introduced the front crawl to the Western world . In 1908 , the world swimming association , Fédération Internationale de Natation ( FINA ) , was formed . Butterfly was developed in the 1930s and was at first a variant of breaststroke , until it was accepted as a separate style in 1952 . Competition . Competitive swimming became popular in the nineteenth century . The goal of competitive swimming is to constantly improve upon one ' s time ( s ) , or to beat the competitors in any given event . However , some professional swimmers who do not hold a national or world ranking are considered the best in regard to their technical skills . Typically , an athlete goes through a cycle of training in which the body is overloaded with work in the beginning and middle segments of the cycle , and then the workload is decreased in the final stage as the swimmer approaches the competition in which he or she is to compete in . This final stage is often referred to as " shave and taper " ; the swimmer tapering down his or her workload to be able to perform at their optimal level . At the very end of this stage , before competition , the swimmer shaves off all exposed hair for the sake of reducing drag and having a sleeker and more hydrodynamic feel in the water . Swimming is an event at the Summer Olympic Games , where male and female athletes compete in 16 of the recognized events each . Olympic events are held in a 50 - meter pool , called a long course pool . There are forty officially recognized individual swimming events in the pool ; however the International Olympic Committee only recognizes 32 of them . The international governing body for competitive swimming is the " Fédération Internationale de Natation " ( " International Swimming Federation " ) , better known as FINA . Open water . In open water swimming , where the events are swum in a body of open water ( lake or sea ) , there are also 5 km , 10 km and 25 km events for men and women . However , only the 10 km event is included in the Olympic schedule , again for both men and women . Open - water competitions are typically separate to other swimming competitions with the exception of the World Championships and the Olympics . Swim styles . In competitive swimming , four major styles have been established . These have been relatively stable over the last 30 – 40 years with minor improvements . The four main strokes in swimming are : Events in competition could have only one of these styles or they could contain all four . The individual medley is an event that where swimmers start the race with butterfly , then move to backstroke , breastroke , and then freestyle . There are two possible distances of this event , both swum in each of the two competition pools . In the short course pool , there are 200 - yard and 400 - yard individual medleys and in the long course pool , there are 200 - meter and 400 - meter individual medleys . For younger swimmers involved in club swimming , there is also a 100 - yard individual medley option in the short course pool , but this event is not often competed by swimmers over the age of 14 . Dolphin kick . In the past two decades , the most drastic change in swimming has been the addition of the underwater dolphin kick . This is used to maximize the speed at the start and after the turns . The first successful use of it was by David Berkoff at the 1988 Olympics , where he swam most of the 100 m backstroke race underwater and broke the world record on the distance during the preliminaries . Another swimmer to use the technique was Denis Pankratov at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta , where he completed almost half of the 100 m butterfly underwater to win the gold medal . In the past few years , American competitive swimmers have shown the most use of the underwater dolphin kick to gain advantage , most notably Olympic and World medal winners Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte . While the dolphin kick is mostly seen in middle - distance freestyle events and in all distances of backstroke and butterfly , it is not usually used to the same effect in freestyle sprinting . That changed with the addition of the so - called sharkskin suits around the European Short Course Championships in Rijeka , Croatia in December 2008 . There , Amaury Leveaux set new world records of 44 . 94 seconds in the 100 m freestyle , 20 . 48 seconds in the 50 m freestyle and 22 . 18 in the 50 m butterfly . Unlike the rest of the competitors in these events , he spent at least half of each race submerged using the dolphin kick . While underwater dolphin kicking is allowed in freestyle , backstroke and butterfly , its use is not permitted in the same way in the breaststroke . In 2005 , a new rule was formed stating that an optional downward dolphin kick may be used off the start and each turn , and it must occur during the breaststroke pullout . Any other dolphin kick will result in disqualification . New rules were established to curtail excessive use of underwater dolphin kicks in freestyle , backstroke and butterfly . Currently , performing the dolphin kick past 15 meters results in a disqualification . Competition pools . Most swimming sport events are held in special competition swimming pools , which are either long course pools such as those used in the Olympic Games ( 50 m ) or short course pools such as those used in the FINA World Swimming Championships ( 25 yard s or 25 m but generally 25m ) . Competition pools have starting blocks from which the competitor can dive in , and possibly also touch - sensitive pads to electronically record the swimming time of each competitor . Seasons . Club swimming in the US has two major seasons . During the short - course season , swimmers swim in 25 - yard pools . This season lasts from September to the end of March . The long - course season takes place in 50 - meter pools and lasts from April to the end of August . The longer freestyle events vary in lengths in each season . In the short course season , the 500 yard , 1000 yard , and 1650 - yard freestyle events are swum , while during the long course season the 400 meter , 800 meter , and 1500 - meter freestyle events are swum instead . However , this difference in distance holds true for all meter pools , i . e . short course meter pools also swim the 400 meter , 800 meter , and 1500 meter freestyle events instead of their yard counterparts . Training in both short course and long course has become more of an American Standard . Internationally , long course meters is the standard , as seen in the Olympics . This standard of two separate seasons in America may be because it is so much easier for new swimmers to learn to compete in a smaller pool during the short course season . Smaller pools allow for shorter distance races , so for example in short course season if a younger swimmer wanted to compete in a stroke they had just learned , a 25 yard 8 years old and under race is available to them , opposed to the long course season when they would need to be able to swim at least 50 meters of that new stroke in order to compete . Officials . There are several types of officials , which are needed to manage the competition . Referee : The referee has full control and authority over all officials . The referee will enforce all rules and decisions of FINA and shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet , and event or the competition , the final settlement of which is not otherwise covered by the rules . The referee takes overall responsibility for running the race and makes the final decisions as to who wins the competition . Referees call swimmers to the blocks with short blasts of his or her whistle . This is the signal for the swimmers to stand next to their blocks . Starters call missing swimmers if necessary . Then the referee will blow a long whistle that will tell the swimmers to step on the block . For backstroke otherwise known as backcrawl events , the long whistle is the signal for the swimmers to step in the water . The referee will then blow another long whistle , signaling the swimmers to grab the gutter or the provided block handle ( for backstoke / backcrawl events only ) . The referee will then hand over control to the starter . Starter : The starter has full control of the swimmers from the time the referee turns the swimmers over to him / her until the race commences . A starter sends the swimmers off the blocks and may call a false start if a swimmer leaves the block before the starter sends them . Clerk of course : The clerk of course assembles swimmers prior to each event , and is responsible for organizing ( " seeding " ) swimmers into heats based on their times . Heats are generally seeded from slowest to fastest , where swimmers with no previous time for an event are assumed to be the slowest . Timekeepers : There are three timekeepers for each lane . Each timekeeper takes the time of the swimmers in the lane assigned to him / her . Unless a video backup system is used , it may be necessary to use the full complement of timekeepers even when automatic officiating equipment is used . A chief timekeeper assigns the seating positions for all timekeepers and the lanes for which they are responsible . The chief timekeeper collects from the timekeepers in each lane a card showing the times recorded and , if necessary , inspect their watches . One timer will be timing with a stopwatch , another recording it down , and one making sure everything is valid . Inspectors of turns : One inspector of turns is assigned to each lane at each end of the pool . Each inspector of turns ensures that swimmers comply with the relevant rules for turning as well as the relevant rules for start and finish of the race . Inspectors of turns shall report any violation on disqualification reports detailing the event , lane number , and the infringement delivered to the chief inspector of turns who will immediately convey the report to the referee . Judges of Stroke : Judges of stroke are located on each side of the pool . They ensure that the rules related to the style of swimming designated for the event are being observed , and observe the turns and the finishes to assist the inspectors of turns . Finish judges Finish judges determine the order of finish and make sure the swimmers finish in accordance with the rules ( two hands simultaneously for breaststroke and butterfly , on the back for backstroke , etc . ) If an official catches a swimmer breaking a rule concerning the stroke he or she is swimming , that swimmer is said to be disqualified ( commonly referred to as a " DQ " ) and the swim is not considered valid . The referee can disqualify any swimmer for any violation of the rules that he personally observes . The referee may also disqualify any swimmer for any violation reported to him by other authorised officials . All disqualifications are subject to the decision of the referee . Swimwear . Regular practice and competition swimwear . Men . Men ' s most used practice swimwear include briefs and jammers . Males generally swim barechested . There has been much controversy after the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 , when many Olympic swimmers broke records an unprecedented number of times using revolutionary swimsuits . To highlight the issue , note that it is rare to break world records , but in 2008 , 70 world records were broken in one year , and 66 Olympic records were broken in one Olympic Games ( there were races in Beijing where the first five finishers were swimming faster than the old world record ) . Despite many of his records having been won in these suits , Michael Phelps stated that he might boycott the competition after his record was beaten by another swimmer with a more advanced suit . As of New Year ' s Day 2010 , men are only allowed to wear suits from the waist to above the knees . They are also only permitted to wear one piece of swimwear ; they cannot wear speedos underneath jammers . This rule was enacted after the controversy in the Beijing Olympics and Rome World Championships . Women . Women wear one - piece suits with different backs for competition , though there are two - piece suits that can be worn to compete as well . Backs vary mainly in strap thickness and geometric design . Most common styles include : racerback , axel back , corset , diamondback , and butterfly - back / Fly - Back . There are also different style lengths : three - quarter length ( reaches the knees ) , regular length ( shoulders to hips ) , and bikini style ( two - piece ) . Also as of New Year ' s 2010 , in competition , women are only allowed to wear suits that do not go past the knees or shoulders . Use of drag . Drag suits , used by women , are used for increasing the resistance against the swimmer in order to help adjust the swimmer to drag . This way , when swimmers switch back to normal practice suits they swim faster as a result of feeling less resistance . They are not worn during competitions . Drag shorts , mainly used by men , like drag suits are worn in training and are also used to increase drag so that when taken off in racing it feels easier and the swimmer feels less resistance . Other forms of drag wear include nylons , old suits , and T - shirts ; the point is to increase friction in the water to build strength during training , and increase speed once drag items are removed for competition . Swimmers also shave areas of exposed skin before end - of - season competitions to reduce friction in the water . It is especially common for women to stop the traditional removal of leg hair at least a month before end - of - season competitions . This can be viewed as an additional form of drag because drag is most importantly about mental training and how one feels in the water . Freshly shaven skin feels much smoother and less resistant in comparison when in the water . The presence of leg and arm hair will make very little difference physically in a swimmer ’ s overall performance , but mentally it has been known to have a very large effect . The mental aspect of wearing drag is critical because the goal is to feel your best in the water on race day . Drag makes a swimmer feel slower and more resistant during training with the added friction . Then on the day of the competition , a shaven swimmer wearing only a fast competition suit will feel a drastic and noticeable improvement in how fast and smooth they feel in the water . As in every other sport , mental training is just as important as physical training . Collegiate Swimming . Young swimmers compete on club teams and may wish to continue their careers through college . Recruiting for collegiate swimming often starts on July 1 following the athlete ' s junior year of high school . That date marks the day that college coaches can contact athletes via phone to discuss possibly swimming for their team . College swimmers compete starting in the fall until their conference meet in the early spring . From there , the swimmers with the fastest times in each event will be invited to compete in the NCAA championships after the regular season is over . All college meets are competed in short course pools . Open - water swimming . Open water swimming is swimming outside of a regular pool , usually in a lake , or sometimes ocean . Popularity of the sport has grown in recent years , particularly since the 10 km open water event was added as an Olympic event in 2005 , contested for the first time in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing . New recent technology has developed much faster swimsuits . Full body suits have been banned , but swimmers at the very top levels still wear suits that have been lasered together because stitching creates drag . The downfall of these suits : they are sometimes uncomfortable and tight . Changes to the sport . Swimming times have dropped over the years due to better training techniques and to new developments . The first four Olympics competitions were not held in pools , but in open water ( 1896 – The Mediterranean , 1900 – The Seine River , 1904 – an artificial lake , 1906 – The Mediterranean ) . The 1904 Olympics ' freestyle race was the only one ever measured at 100 yards , instead of the usual 100 meters . A 100 - meter pool was built for the 1908 Olympics and sat in the center of the main stadium ' s track and field oval . The 1912 Olympics , held in the Stockholm harbor , marked the beginning of electronic timing . Male swimmers wore full - body suits until the 1940s , which caused more drag in the water than their modern swimwear counterparts did . Competition suits now include engineered fabric and designs to reduce swimmers ' drag in the water and prevent athlete fatigue . In addition , over the years , pool designs have lessened the drag . Some design considerations allow for the reduction of swimming resistance , making the pool faster . Namely , proper pool depth , elimination of currents , increased lane width , energy absorbing racing lane lines and gutters , and the use of other innovative hydraulic , acoustic , and illumination designs . The 1924 Summer Olympics were the first to use the standard 50 - meter pool with marked lanes . In the freestyle , swimmers originally dove from the pool walls , but diving blocks were incorporated at the 1936 Summer Olympics . The tumble turn was developed by the 1950s and goggles were first used in the 1976 Olympics . There were also changes in the late 20th century in terms of technique . Breaststrokers are now allowed to dip their heads completely under water , which allows for a longer stroke and faster time . However , the breaststrokers must bring their heads up at the completion of each cycle . In addition , a key hole pull in the breaststroke start and turns has been added to help speed up the stroke . There have been some other changes added recently as well . Now off the start and turns , breaststrokers are allowed one butterfly kick to help increase their speed . Backstrokers are now allowed to turn on their stomachs before the wall in order to perform a " flip - turn " . Previously , they had to reach and flip backwards and a variation of it , known as a " bucket turn " or a " suicide turn " , is sometimes used in individual medley events to transition from backstroke to breaststroke . Records . The foundation of FINA in 1908 signalled the commencement of recording the first official world records in swimming . At that time records could be established in any swimming pool of length not less than 25 yards , and records were also accepted for intermediate distance split times from longer distance events . Today World Records will only be accepted when times are reported by Automatic Officiating Equipment , or Semi - Automatic Officiating Equipment in the case of Automatic Officiating Equipment system malfunction . Records in events such as 300 yd , 300 m , 1000 yd , and 1000 m freestyle , 400 m backstroke , and 400 m and 500 m breaststroke were no longer ratified from 1948 . A further removal of the 500 yd and 500 m freestyle , 150 m backstroke , and 3×100 m medley relay from the record listings occurred in 1952 . In 1952 , the national federations of the United States and Japan proposed at the FINA Congress the separation of records achieved in long - course and short - course pools , however it was four more years before action to came into effect with Congress deciding to retain only records held in 50 m pools as the official world record listings . By 1969 there were thirty - one events in which FINA recognised official world records – 16 for men , 15 for women – closely resembling the event schedule that was in use at the Olympic Games . The increase in accuracy and reliability of electronic timing equipment led to the introduction of hundredths of a second to the time records from 21 August 1972 . Records in short course ( 25 m ) pools began to be officially approved as " short course world records " from 3 March 1991 . Prior to this date , times in short course ( 25 m ) pools were not officially recognised , but were regarded a " world best time " ( WBT ) . From 31 October 1994 times in 50 m backstroke , breaststroke , and butterfly were added to the official record listings . FINA currently recognises world records in the following events for both men and women . Health and skin care . It is recommended that swimmers wear waterproof sunscreen to meets and daytime swim practices that are outside to prevent sunburn s . It is also recommended that swimmers dry off well between events at meets and change into dry clothes as soon as possible after swimming to prevent rashes and skin infections . It also is important for pool water to be properly maintained to avoid rashes and skin infections . Swimmers should shower with mild soap after swimming to remove pool chemicals such as chlorine and salt . Swimmers should use goggles to protect the eyes from pool water and improve underwater vision . Swimmers should rinse hair with tap water after swimming and then use a shampoo that is chemically formulated to remove both the copper and chlorine .