Scribd
Upload
111 views2 pages

History of Swimming

Competitive swimming began in Europe in 1800 using the breaststroke and was added to the Olympics in 1896 with the freestyle and breaststroke. Over subsequent Olympics and decades, new strokes like backstroke and butterfly were added, women's events began in 1912, and technology improvements like electronic timing in 1912 and goggles in 1976 enhanced the sport. Notable swimming achievements include Johnny Weissmuller being the first to break 1 minute in the 100m freestyle in 1922, Mark Spitz winning a record 7 gold medals in 1972, and Michael Phelps winning a record 8 gold medals in 2008.

Uploaded by

Nelzen Garay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
111 views2 pages

History of Swimming

Competitive swimming began in Europe in 1800 using the breaststroke and was added to the Olympics in 1896 with the freestyle and breaststroke. Over subsequent Olympics and decades, new strokes like backstroke and butterfly were added, women's events began in 1912, and technology improvements like electronic timing in 1912 and goggles in 1976 enhanced the sport. Notable swimming achievements include Johnny Weissmuller being the first to break 1 minute in the 100m freestyle in 1922, Mark Spitz winning a record 7 gold medals in 1972, and Michael Phelps winning a record 8 gold medals in 2008.

Uploaded by

Nelzen Garay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

APR 5, 1800-Competitive Swimming Starts in Europe, 1800's.

Mostly Used the stroke Breastroke

AUG 5, 1896- First Time Swimming is Competed in the Olympics. The very first events were the
freestyle stroke and the breastroke stroke. They swam in the Meditteranian sea.

APR 5, 1900- Competitive Swimming Starts to become Popular, 19th century

APR 8, 1904- The Stroke Backstroke added to the Olympics

JUL 19, 1908- The Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). Fine administers aquatic competition
throughout the world. It oversees five different aquatic sports currently (swimming, diving,
synchronized swimming, water polo and open water swimming).

APR 8, 1912- Women’s Swimming added to the Olympics. First Olympics that the women swam in was
the Stockholm Olympics. It has been in every Olympics since. It has pretty much the same events as
the men exceot for one. The women swim the 800 and then men swim the 1,500.

AUG 11, 1912- Electronic Timing Starts. Electronic timing first started being used. This made the times
swimmers got more accurate.

APR 8, 1922- Johnny Weissmuller the first person to go under One minute in 100m Freestyle. Used a six
kick per pull stroke method.

DEC 9, 1923- Swimming became an NCAA Sport. The first meet was held March 24th, 1924. 100
athletes competed in five swimming events and one diving event. 14 school were
represented. National championship added in 1937.

APR 10, 1924- 50m Pools with lanes first used in the Olympics.

APR 8, 1930- The Stroke Butterfly was Developed, 1930's.

AUG 10, 1935- First topless swimsuits. The US men first wore swimsuits that did not include a top
portion in 1935.

APR 8, 1956- Butterfly was first swam in the Olympics. First swam in the games in Melbourne.

AUG 10, 1972- Mark Spitz 1972 Olympics. Mark Spitz came to the 1972 olympics to win 6 medals. But
he ended up winning a whooping 7. He wont every event he swam. He also set a world record in all
of them. I have won the 100 and 200 freestyle, the 100 and 200 butterfly, and then 2 relays. His
record of 7 gold medals in a single games was not broken until 2008.

AUG 10, 1976- Goggles first used. Goggles were first used in the 1976 Olympics. Goggles are used to
protect the swimmers eyes from the chlorine in the pool.

APR 10, 1981- Swimming a Womens NCAA sport. Swimming was one of the 12 sports added for
women in the 1981-1982 season.

APR 12, 1991- SCM Records. In 1991 FINA started to recognize world records for SCM. SCM stands
for short course meters. It is the short way you swim in the pool.

AUG 13, 2002- Natalie Coughlin Feat. Natalie Coughlin, 10 days before her 20th birthday, became the
first woman to swim the 100m backstroke (LCM) in under one minute.
AUG 9, 2008- Michael Phelps 2008 Olympics. At the 2008 Olympics Michael Phelps made history. He
won a total of 8 gold medals, breaking swimmer Mark Spitz's previous record of 7. He won gold
medals in the 100 and 200 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 200 and 400 individual medley and won them in 3
relays.

AUG 9, 2008- Michael Phelps 2008 Olympics. At the 2008 Olympics Michael Phelps made history. He
won a total of 8 gold medals, breaking swimmer Mark Spitz's previous record of 7. He won gold
medals in the 100 and 200 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 200 and 400 individual medley and won them in 3
relays.

You might also like