It may seem odd to think of swimming as having any history.
Could there be a history of swimming for something that comes instinctively to humans?
So while it may seem impossible to pinpoint the exact time when swimming was invented, there are many historic moments that have contributed to the evolvement of competitive swimming, swimming styles and swimming strokes.
As one of the mainstay events at the Olympic Games, it is worth taking a look at how competitive swimming came about and what contributed to the swimming styles we practice today.
The First Records Relating to the Background of Swimming
If you are looking for a background of swimming history, then you will need to look at early Greek, Assyrian and Roman civilisations. While they may not have been perfecting their swimming strokes, remember that Greeks and Romans enjoyed communal baths in the era BCE.
Apart from that, Romans liked to build swimming pools for recreational swimming. By these accounts, we know that people have been swimming all over the world for thousands of years.
In Asian civilisations, there are records of swimming back in the first century BCE, so it is fair to say that people have been swimming all over the world for thousands of years. Who invented swimming and started teaching it is a very different debate, but the first swimming pools date back to BCE, with Southern Europe and Asia leading the way when it came to swimming events and facilities being created.
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Swimming Throughout the Ages
Any background of swimming during the middle ages is scant. One reason for this is that swimming was thought to spread disease and even cause epidemics. Given that there was not enough scientific knowledge to support the opposite of this thinking, fear took over and very few people swam.
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the background of swimming becomes more clear because people began to work on both swimming styles and swimming strokes. It became compulsory for Japanese children to learn how to swim in schools and there is even evidence of the first competitive swimming races taking place during this time.
During the 19th century swimming really took off as a recreational activity while competitive swimming took hold in Australia in 1846. All across London and Europe people began to swim.
Competitive Swimming
Competitive swimming and those who turned to it as a profession played a huge role in growing the popularity of swimming for the general public.
From the time of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 until today, swimming continues to grow in popularity. From mastering swimming styles to events in natural resources like rivers and the ocean, swimming is now one of the most popular sports on offer.
Today, most competitive swimming happens in pools. At Olympic events distances covered start at 50m and go up to 10 000m in open water. Distances like this covered in open water are also called ‘marathon swimming.’
Other competitive swimming events worth noting include the FINA World Championships, LEN European Aquatics Championships and the United States Swimming National Championships. When it comes to the different formats on offer for swimming as a sport, there are many for both women and men, whether those are relays or individual events.
There are a few other long-distance swimming events that make up an important part of the history of swimming. One of these is the English Channel Event which was regulated by the FINA. To date, 2,428 solo open-water swims from England to France across this channel, have been completed.
The British Long Distance Swimming Association hosts many different events that are generally between 10 and 22 miles in length. In some areas of the world, endurance races can reach up to 50 miles which is a huge achievement considering the health and safety support that is needed for it to take place.
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A Brief History of Swimming Strokes
One of the first things you will find when watching swimming events is the four different types of swimming strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Taking up swimming seriously usually means being able to swim all four of these strokes, although even some of the best amateur swimmers can battle with butterfly.
When learning swimming strokes, Breaststroke is one that is widely taught. The stroke which involves pulling the arms to the side while doing the same thing with the legs is called froggy style when first taught to small children. Breaststroke is especially effective in rough conditions where one needs to see where one is going and breathe more easily. This is why it makes sense that is prioritised for beginners.
When it comes to different swimming strokes there are certainly some intriguing facts. Butterfly, for instance, was introduced purely for competition by Henry Meyers and later recognised as a unique stroke of its own.
Freestyle or crawl as it is commonly known is the fastest of the strokes and is used by the majority of people. As the most recent swimming style, first used at the end of the 19th century, it is the stroke that is most preferred for long distances. Due to the fast motion of the kicking technique which propels the swimmer, freestyle is also the stroke used for sprints.
Around the same time in history, backstroke was developed and soon became popular. As the only stroke that involves being on one's back, it can be seen as an easier stroke (until that point where the swimmer reaches the end of the pool). In long-distance swimming, many swimmers will turn to backstroke for a short while to give their arms and breathing a rest before returning to freestyle or breaststroke.
Like most sports, swimming involves techniques and even style adaptions that evolve over time. There is often a sports star in a certain era who pushes boundaries and style that will influence the masses and result in incremental changes over time.
Great Swimmers Through History
Swimming as a sport has given rise to some of the most incredible sportsmen and women in history. Throughout the history of swimming and in particular, the Olympic Games there are individuals of all ages who have broken records that have caught the attention of the whole world.
To follow are a few of some of the most noteworthy swimmers in history who have pushed boundaries and contributed to the sport.
Michael Phelps
Almost everyone has heard of the power and talent of Michael Phelps who is the most awarded Olympian swimmer in history. To date, he is the proud owner of an unbelievable 28 medals. Having begun his professional swimming career at an early age, Phelps’ first participation at the Olympics was at the tender age of only 15. He is a world-renowned athlete and is known as the fastest man in water.
Mark Spitz
Another huge name in the world of swimming is Mark Spitz who boasts one record that even the lightning speed of Michael Phelps has not been able to match. As one of the most celebrated swimmers in history, Spitz once won seven gold medals in the Munich Olympic event held in 1970. In 2008, Phelps came close to achieving six in one year, but this is one record where he has not been able to surpass the achievements of “Mark the Shark.”
Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky is a young professional swimmer who is still participating in the sport and by all accounts, still has a long and illustrious career ahead of her. To date, she has already won over 20 gold medals, seven of which were achieved at the Olympic Games. Katie is an athlete that has caught the attention of sports enthusiasts all over the world and is bound to be one of those people who pushes the boundaries when it comes to the future of swimming.
The History of Swimming in a Nutshell
For centuries, swimming has been a part of culture as well as a very useful skill to have. As a sport, athletes continue to astound the world by showing us just how much the human body can achieve.
This article is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the full background of swimming and all that it involves. As a sport, recreational activity and way to keep fit, swimming is here to stay and will no doubt evolve as humans continue to break new barriers over time.
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