history of swimming essay pdf

From Past to Present: The Evolution and History Of Olympic Swimming

By Kaylie Williams, Swimming World College Intern.

Swimming continues to be a cornerstone event of the Olympic Games. But have you ever stopped to think about how the sport has evolved to the cutting-edge competition we witness today? Who was the first nation to introduce competitive swimming? Who held the first Olympic Games? How did Olympic swimming evolve to its current state? Keep reading to find out!

Early Origins

Photo Courtesy: Flickr

Swimming had its origins in Egypt as a leisure sport around 2500 BCE. According to britannica.com , archeological evidence has shown that ancient Greeks and Romans later used the practice to train soldiers for war to eventually become “part of elementary education for males.” They are also believed to have built the first swimming pools, distinctly different from their baths.

Evidence of a few races taking place in Japan around the 1st Century, BCE has also been uncovered. Not surprisingly, ancient Pacific Island natives are believed to have taught their children how to swim around the same time or even before they learned how to walk.

From Leisure to Competition

Photo Courtesy: Michael Gross/International Swimming Hall of Fame

Although swimming’s origins were rooted in leisure, the sport quickly evolved into a competition even before the first Olympic Games in 1896. In 1837, the first swimming organization was created in London and became known as England’s National Swimming Society. The name would later be changed to the Swimming Association of Great Britain in 1874.

During the 19th century, Australia—hungry for competition—began to hold regular championship races. In 1846, Australia held the first swimming championships. This was the first chance for different national teams to compete against each other and would dictate the future of competitive swimming . In the following years, various nations would host their own championship meets; the United States got their chance in 1877.

The First Olympic Games

Photo Courtesy: Shane Gould and Shirley Babashoff/International Swimming Hall of Fame

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. According to the olympicchannel.com , swimming is “one of only four disciplines to have been retained, appearing in every summer Olympics since [the first Olympic Games] – the others being athletics, artistic gymnastics and fencing.” The first Olympics introduced some strange races into the lineup, as it was purely an experimental event to begin with. For example, the 100m free for sailors was strictly for members of the Greek Navy, and all of the races were held in open water.

Until 1912, only male swimmers were allowed to compete in the Olympics. It was not until the Stockholm Olympics that women were able to compete , and even when they were finally allowed in the water, they were only given two events in which to compete—the 100 free and 400 free relay.

Post World War Ⅱ to Modern Day

Photo Courtesy: John Naber/ International Swimming Hall of Fame

The era following World War Ⅱ was a bustling time for innovation and production. All of the economic growth from the war brought great technological advancement to the United States, which translated to the swimming world in the form of lane lines and indoor competition pools. Advanced training techniques and facilities such as hydrodynamic swimsuits and better drainage systems in the pools allowed athletes to swim much faster than those of the past. By 1924, marked lanes and guidelines for pool depths leveled the playing field and allowed for a more fair competition.

The 1950s and 1960s were full of advancement within the swimming world as new strokes and events made their debut over the following years. The butterfly stroke was first raced in 1956 at the Melbourne Olympics, and in 1968, the number of events jumped from eight to 14 for women and 10 to 15 for men.

The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of superhuman swimmers such as Mark Spitz , Matt Biondi , Michael Gross and Kristen Otto . Their achievements are remembered and honored as they serve to motivate the top athletes of today, such as Katie Ledecky and, of course, Michael Phelps . Phelps is currently the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, collecting a healthy 28 medals and is known for breaking Spitz’s record of seven consecutive first place finishes at one Olympic Game. Ledecky is well on her way to becoming one of the most decorated female swimmers in Olympic history with five Olympic gold medals, 14 world championship gold medals and six world records under her belt.

Swimming has come a long way since its early beginnings. Our present and future successes in competition can only be attributed to the struggles of past athletes. The rough years of early competition spurred innovation and advancement of training techniques and facilities that allow us to compete at the level we do today. For that, we should be grateful and work to appreciate and remember the proud history of swimming.

– All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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The History of Swimming & How it’s Evolved

• Post author: Shane Webb
• Post published: February 28, 2022
• Post category: Uncategorized
• Post comments: 2 Comments

Swimming is an interesting sporting activity that dates back a very long time. It may not be something that’s on the school curriculum, but it’s a very interesting topic to read about in your free time. So let’s take a look at the history of swimming!

Where Did Swimming Originate?  

There is evidence, particularly archaeological evidence which suggests that what we deem as modern swimming has been practised from as early as 2500BCe in Egypt and thereafter in Assyrian, Roman and Greek civilisations. Swimming was often a part of martial training in the Greek and Roman civilisations in order to help with strength and overall fitness. 

During the time period of the ancient Greeks, there were records of occasional swimming races occurring. 

During the 1 st Century BCE, Gaius Maecenas a Roman diplomat and counsellor to the Roman emperor Augustus built the first known heated swimming pool. 

As for swimming in Europe and the UK, it wasn’t really practised until around the late 17 th century for Europe and around 1830 in the UK. 

The question is why did it take so long for it to be practised in Europe? Well, according to Britannica , the lack of swimming in Europe during the Middle Ages is explained by some authorities as having been caused by a fear that swimming spread infections and caused epidemics. May have feared that COVID-19 was transmissible in the water, but you can read our article here about what the WHO said about COVID-19 and swimming.

Swimsuits  

Firstly, wearing a swimsuit did not exist historically. It was difficult for women to find something to wear for swimming. The Victorian bathing suits were a burden for women; slowing them down and uncomfortable making them a big burden. 

As time passed and the Olympic games were first introduced, swimsuits were made more streamlined and a lot lighter in weight because the swimsuits at the time were slowing swimmers down significantly. Swimsuits now are skin-tight allowing better body fluidity and movement which allows swimmers to reach high speeds. 

Goggles  

The first known goggles that were used for swimming were invented in Persia in the 14 th Century. Believe it or not, they were made from polished tortoise shells. They were quite popular for around 2 centuries in the Middle East. 

Wooden goggles were later used by Polynesian divers. The goggles used trapped air to maintain visibility underwater. However, they were only really useful when in a downwards position, otherwise the trapped air would escape and water would fill the goggles. 

During the 1950s, open water swimmers used rubber goggles with lenses. The goggles were large and uncomfortable, but they did the job of keeping the water out.

Now we have different styled goggles that come in all sorts of colours and designs; some of them look really cool! Goggles have evolved so much over the years. Who knows what they’ll be like in the future.

Breaststroke

Swimming techniques have evolved a lot over the years, but the breaststroke technique has changed quite considerably over the years. Mark Foster explains the modern swimming techniques and how to do them here

During the 1950s, the breaststroke was the only swimming stroke that actually required a style and technique. The leg action had originated from copying the leg movement of frogs in the water.

A study in 1928 showed that performing the recovery part of the breaststroke was faster over the surface of the water in comparison to underneath the water.

During the 1930s, swimmers used this technique in swimming competitions. They started with a breaststroke kick and arm movement which is now known as the butterfly. In 1952, the combined stroke was split into what we now know as the butterfly and the breaststroke. The split occurred because the combination of the two techniques violated the original rules created.

A further rule was created in the 60s where swimmers’ arms were not allowed past their hips, apart from the first stroke when they jump into the pool, the turns and the pullout.

Head Underwater

A further enhancement was made in 1987 where swimmers were no longer required to keep their heads above the water. This meant that swimmers must break the surface of the water after each stroke cycle, then put their head back in the water which makes the swimmer more streamlined, making them swim faster.

The Dolphin Kick

In 2004 and 2005, a rule was implemented where swimmers were allowed to do one dolphin kick at the start of the race and off of each wall in the pullout.

Ten years later, the dolphin kick rule was changed which allowed swimmers to use the dolphin kick at any point before the breaststroke kick.

The evolution of swimming is fascinating and it’s amazing how much swimming has progressed over the years! Do you know any swimming facts? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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The history of Olympic swimming

Discover the history of Olympic swimming, from its early days as a military training technique to a showpiece Olympic event.

While humans have likely been swimming ever since they dipped their toe in the water, it’s believed that swimming as a practice dates back as early as 2500 BC.

The Ancient Egyptians were said to swim in the Nile for pleasure, while the Greeks and Romans used it as a means of training prospective soldiers.

But how did it become an Olympic staple? Let’s dive into the history of Olympic swimming .

Origins of the sport

Swimming started its sporting journey in the mid-19th century, when the world’s first swimming organisation was formed in London in 1837.

Inevitably, things soon became competitive and, in 1846, the first swimming championship was held in Australia. The race became an annual event, and it was an early indicator for the future success of competitive swimming.

Swimming has been part of the Olympic schedule since the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It’s one of only four disciplines to have been retained, appearing in every summer Olympics since – the others being athletics, artistic gymnastics and fencing.

Birth of Olympic swimming

In the early years, Olympic swimming events were male-only. Women’s events were introduced at the 1912 Games in Stockholm – although women initially only competed in two events, the 100m freestyle and 4×100m freestyle relay.

Experimental beginnings brought some rather unique events to those early Games. At the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens, swimming events included the 100m freestyle for sailors , which only members of the Greek navy could compete in.

Until the London 1908 Games, Olympic swimming events took place in open water. This left the swimmers at the mercy of the elements, contending with the weather and waves.

After being exposed to temperatures of 13°C in the Mediterranean (a modern Olympic pool is around 25-28°C) during the 1,200m freestyle race – in which he won gold – Alfréd Hajós said: “My will to live completely overcame my desire to win”, illustrating the precarious nature of the early swimming events.

Showing just how varied the Games have been throughout history, Hajós would later compete at the 1924 Paris Olympics in the art competition, when he and fellow countryman Dezső Lauber won silver in the sporting architecture category.

The modern era and rise of superstar athletes

The post-World War II era brought better technology, facilities and improved training techniques , resulting in significantly quicker times compared to the early, wave-fighting competitions.

Originally, female and male swimmers wore body suits, which increased resistance and slowed them down. As the sport progressed, swimwear become more hydrodynamic. Suits began to be made from materials such as Lycra, which reduced drag and, as a result, reduced lap times.

Competitive pools also saw great change during this period, which led to the move from outdoor to indoor tournaments. The introduction of drainage in Olympic swimming pools, marked lanes in 1924, and guidelines for pool depths all contributed to a better overall standard of competition in the years that followed.

The rise of the superstar athlete

This exciting era of development paved the way for superstar swimmers, the first of which was the USA’s Mark Spitz . Winning seven gold medals at the Munich Games in 1972, he became a household name on the back of his astonishing achievements.

Brilliant solo performances continued at Seoul 1988, when East Germany’s Kristin Otto became the first woman to bag six gold medals in a single Games, setting a new standard for aspiring Olympic swimmers.

These accomplishments have been bettered only by one man, Michael Phelps . Vowing to break his countryman Spitz’s record, he eclipsed it by one in Beijing 2008. Phelps claimed a grand total of eight golds – 36 years after Spitz’s era-defining performances in Munich – and later became the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals over four Games.

Sights on Tokyo and beyond

As time has progressed, more events – and swimming techniques – have been added to the Olympic swimming programme. At the 1956 Melbourne Games, the butterfly stroke made its debut. In 1968 in Mexico City, there was an almighty leap – the biggest jump in new events between Games – when the number of swimming events grew from eight to 14 for women, and 10 to 15 for men.

Tokyo 2020 will mark the start of a new era for the Games. For the first time, men’s and women’s events will be identical in number, distance and discipline. At Rio 2016, there were 32 events – in Tokyo, this will grow to 35, with 18 events for both men and women. The 35th event, though, is revolutionary.

Tokyo 2020 will be include the mixed 4×100m medley relay. In this new gender-mixed race, both men and women will compete together in the same teams. And in Tokyo in particular, we’ll see them fighting to become the inaugural winners of this new race.

Discover a wealth of Olympic swimming action with exclusive videos and features on the Olympic Channel.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Swimming — An Overview of the Origin of Swimming

An Overview of The Origin of Swimming

• Categories: Swimming

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Published: Sep 18, 2018

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A history of synchronized swimming

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History of Swimming

It is believed that swimming appeared around 2500 B.C. in Egypt. People learned how to swim accidentally (Belson, 2016). The first person who began to swim probably fell into the water and fought to get to the shore using the dog-paddle stroke. Two thousand years later, swimming was a part of Greek and Roman military training. Diving into the sea was also among ancient Roman sporting activities. During the sixteenth century, swimming was forbidden because there were several epidemics at that time, and people could get infected through water (Murphy, 2013). The current paper seeks to explore the history of swimming, present the world record-holders, and discuss the benefits of swimming.

England is considered to be one of the first nations where swimming started as a competitive and recreational sport. The first swimming pool was built in England in 1862, and later many other swimming pools were constructed after the establishment of the Amateur Swimming Association in 1880 (Murphy, 2013). This association had more than three hundred members. The major styles used in swimming during that time were the sidestroke and breaststroke.

Before 1844, the British still swam keeping their heads above water, a relic of the time when people thought that water was polluted. However, in 1874, Trudgen introduced the overhand stroke to England after he had seen American Indians swimming very fast using this method (Belson, 2016).

Swimming competitions were included in the first Olympic Games taking place in 1896 (Belson, 2016). However, swimming at that period was not well-developed. Only men were permitted to participate in competitions that were usually held in the ocean. As a rule, participants did not even wet their faces. Their swimsuits were made out of wool covering them from elbows to knees. Women were first allowed to participate in the Olympic Games in 1912, swimming in a well-designed pool (Murphy, 2013).

In 1935, American male swimmers started wearing swimsuits that did not include the top portion (Clemente, 2014). In the 1972 Olympics, Mark Spitz won six gold medals, and his record was not broken until 2008 (Clemente, 2014). Swimmers first started wearing goggles while swimming in 1976 (Clemente, 2014). The goggles were used to protect the swimmers’ eyes from chlorine in the water.

In 1991, the International Swimming Federation started recognizing world records in short course swimming events (Clemente, 2014). In 2002, Natalie Coughlin became the first woman who swam the 100-meter backstroke less than in one minute. In 2008, Michael Phelps won eight Olympic gold medals breaking Spitz’s world record (Clemente, 2014). According to Chanelle Clemente (2014), in 2010, the International Swimming Federation banned swimsuits made out of non-textile materials because they gave an unfair advantage to swimmers with larger physiques.

Swimming has many benefits outside recreation and competition. Knowing how to swim can be very useful in case of danger. Moreover, swimming can be utilized in physical therapy. It is also a good exercise because many body muscles are used during swimming workouts. Therefore, many resorts build swimming pools for their visitors.

In conclusion, it is believed that swimming originated in Egypt. The Greeks and Romans used swimming during military training. However, swimming started to rapidly develop in England. After some time, people organized the first swimming competitions. However, women were not allowed to participate in these competitions until 1912. Currently, the two best-known world record-holders are Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps. Overall, swimming has many benefits as it helps to survive in case of danger and keep the body fit.

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