Swimming as a competitive sport

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Swimming as a competitive sport

Swimming is one of the oldest activities known to man. Ancient carvings show that people have been able to swim for over 4,000 years. A stone picture from Iraq, dated from 869 BC, shows warriors swimming using inflated animal bladders and breathing tubes like a scuba diver would use an air tank and snorkel. Swimming became popular as a sport in the 19th century. Early swimming strokes included the front crawl, the backstroke and the sidestroke. In those early days men and women swam in separate pools. Swimsuits were also very different than today. In those days swimsuits were made of long, baggy and heavy wool. Today swimsuits are made of lighter fabrics and are more streamlined.

Swimming as a sport consists of four areas - swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo. International swimming competitions are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA), which has over 160 member nations.

The front crawl is the fastest and most efficient of all the swimming strokes.   This is because the body is streamline there is less resistance.  To perform it correctly requires lots of practice, and the important muscles to build up are in the shoulders and chest.  Your body must be horizontal and your arms and legs must be constantly moving to propel you forward through the water.   For the legs to work efficiently the kick must come from the hips and follow on though down to the feet.  Breathing takes place to the side to the opposite side to the arm in recovery.  In racing breathing tends to be minimal, while in training it tends to be systematic such as every third arm pull.  Although there is no swimming event called the front crawl, it is a favourite among swimmers, and it is often the swimming stroke of choice in freestyle events.

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While not as fast as the front crawl, the backstroke is still an effective way to move around in the water. The backstroke is not as tiring as other swimming strokes, and your face is always out of the water so it is easy to breathe.  The backstroke basic are easy learn but require some practice to perfect.  Legs and arms both move in alternate actions same as in front crawl.  Useful techniques include having the head tilted slightly forward as if it is propped up.  Also making the shoulders roll, which will cause the body to follow, and ...

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