The History of the Sport of Swimming

741 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A personal essay of swimming

Swimming by definition is “to move along in water by means of movements of the body or parts of the body, especially the arms and legs, or (in the case of fish) tail and fins” (Swimming). The sport of swimming has a long history, from the beginning with the Egyptians and Hittites, through the competitive athletes of this century. While the history of competitive swimming is more in depth and has more information about it, the ancient history has a more solid background (MLA 7th Edition).
In Egyptian history, swimming was used for combat and a way to escape from the enemy. Ramesses the Second and his troops escaped from the Hittites in the Battle of Kadesh. This story is also shown on hieroglyphics, which also provides evidence of early swimming efforts. “The Pharaoh, Ramesses the Second, is said to have enjoyed swimming contests (MLA 7th Edition).” In addition to the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans used swimming for recreation and a way to relax. The Romans built “baths’ or what is now a model for a swimming pool (MLA 7th Edition).
Swimming has taken on many forms since that time period some reasons include recreationally, utilitarian, combat, scuba diving, swimming races, marathon swimming, and water polo and diving. Recreational swimming has been around since the Greeks and Romans. Young children often learn to swim in a recreational setting with instructors. The water is an unsafe place for some. Swimming in open water occasionally ends in drowning. Since the nineteenth century, swimmers have turned to a supervised area for a safer environment. When learning to swim in North America, younger kids are usually taught “freestyle” or the crawl, while breaststroke is taught in Europe and Asia (MLA 7th Edition).
Competitive swimm...

... middle of paper ...

...lo, open water swimming, diving, and synchronized swimming. Over 200 programs from around the world belong to it. There are many levels to FINA competitions. Competitions are offered at the regional, state, intercollegiate, national, and international level. These competitions come in different formats and at different age-group levels (MLA 7th Edition).
In conclusion, swimming has a long history and is up and coming to the world. Swimming is a challenging sport that requires time and effort. With many events, the athletes have an array of events from that may suit their individual talents. The sport is still evolving so the world will continue to be amazed. While its more popular in Europe and Australia, swimmers like Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, and Mark Spitz are helping to grow the sport in the USA by inspiring a new generation of kids may become an Olympian.

Show More
Related

  • Lone Bather by A.M. Klein and The Swimmer by Irving Layton

    1560 Words  | 4 Pages

    water, curved and smooth and green.'; This seems to illustrate the peacefulness of the situation, almost creating a lazy, calm atmosphere. However, the imagery within “The Swimmer'; is quite opposite. “The Swimmer'; tends to portray a scene of force, as there is no evidence of the peaceful interaction between man and water as found in “Lone Bather.'; Evidence of such force ...

    Read More

  • Apoxyomenos and the Role of Athletics in Ancient Greek Culture

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Athletics were an expression of the philosophical, religious and civic values that were at the very heart of Greek culture. In the world of the ancient Greeks, well-educated individuals were expected to be balanced mentally, spiritually, and physically (http://www.mediaconcero.com/olympic/olympia/ideal_o.php, September 27, 2004). It was felt that athletics aided in the creation of such an individual. Athletic events during this period were not simply displays of physical prowess, but an integration of the facets of Greek culture.

    Read More

  • Denial and Alcoholism Exposed in The Swimmer, by John Cheever

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Swimmer, a short story by John Cheever, tells the tale of Neddy Merrill and his decision to “swim” all the way home. It is an odd sort of an idea, and he fancies himself an adventurer exploring a new river. The river is really made of swimming pools that stretch across town, which collectively he believes will lead him home. Along his journey however, startling occurrences take place, leading to the conclusion that Neddy’s water-filled journey isn’t what it seems. The “swim” Neddy takes is really hinting at an alcohol problem that he is in denial about, and the affects it has had on his life.

    Read More

  • Realism In The Swimmer John Cheever

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    The swimmer is about the life of a mind-aged young man who goes through the life in a swimming journey. He begins the venture with high spirits, jovial, practice cordiality with friends. The time passes and he finds himself in the storm of poverty, alone and mentality depressed.

    Read More

  • The Controversy Over the LZR Racer Suit in College Swimming

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    At 5 A.M., swimmers around the world get up to go to practice or are already jumping into the pool. Later on that day, swimmers will get into the water again and practice for another couple of hours. In addition to that, there are always weights and some sort of dry land activity. Some teams even include yoga and Pilates for added flexibility. Having a social life beyond seeing the people on your swim team is near impossible. With school work, high physical demands at practice, having to eat almost every three hours, and trying to maintain a normal life, the weeks are exhausting. It is no wonder why the NCAA has set a maximum number of hours to train each week in regards to college swimming. All of these factors play into the hopes that when a swimmer tapers, or rests for a meet so that they are in top condition to compete, they will be able to swim faster than they ever have before and hopefully achieve a best time or get a new “cut”. The same process has been happening year after year, and then 2008 came around and one of the biggest headaches for the swimmers and all of their supporters was created: the LZR ( pronounced lasar) Racer. This suit has been one of the largest controversies swimming has had to face. In swimming, technology, technique, and conditioning are key to success, but when technology becomes the main factor, the sport of swimming is lost in the turmoil. If suits keep becoming faster and more technologically advanced, the only thing left to do will be to jump into the pool, and where is the sport in that? All suits manufactured with a non-permeable material should be banned from all competitive swimming events; in addition to that, the suits should not be longer than the knees, no higher than the waist for men,...

    Read More

  • Jeff Wiltse's Contested Waters: A Social History Of Swimming Pools

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the book, Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, author Jeff Wiltse relates the history of swimming pools in America to situations and events that happened in American history. Not only have swimming pools outlined America’s history, but they have symbolized its division in race, gender, and class. Swimming pools themselves have been used for bathing, recreation, and physical activity. Who knew that something so simple as swimming pools would be a recognizable symbol of American life. Important time periods for this division in race, gender, and class are noticeable in the 1890’s, 1920’s and 1940’s.

    Read More

  • Physical Fitness and Diving

    599 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diving has gotten away from the stereotype based on the early days of diving, that it is a rough and tough sport requiring extreme endurance and strength. Today it is viewed as an activity done by both men and women and even children. While diving is promoted as a leisure sport, it is still a sport. One that takes an amount of physical activity. We start by carrying heavy tanks on our backs. We are in constant motion for the entire dive. Even breathing is a more difficult as we must overcome the additional pressure on our body as we expand our chest.

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Competitive Swimming in American Culture

    1646 Words  | 4 Pages

    Back in 1972, the best swimmer was Mark Spitz, but now it is Michael Phelps. According to the World Biography “The difference between Phelps and Spitz is remarkably different”. Michael Phelps had a lot more things to make him a better swimmer, he had more knowledge of the sport and a more efficient body type. The World Biography says that “Mark got seven gold at 1972 and Phelps got eight in 2008” . Phelps won gold in all of his events in the 2008 Olympics and Spitz got gold in all of his but he only did seven events in 1972. Phelps had more opportunities in his time of swimming than Spitz.Which shows the evolution in skills in American culture through Michael Phelps

    Read More

  • How Has Swimming Changed Over The Years

    374 Words  | 1 Pages

    Competitive swimming has changed over the years but not super drastically because all in all it's still a competition. Competitive swimming was first introduced in the early 1800s in Britain by the National Swimming Society. The National Swimming Society used indoor man made pools to compete in. These events began to become popular leading to the start of the Amateur Swimming Association in 1880. Swimming was first included in the Olympic Games in 1896. There were four swimming events held, now there are about 16 events held current day. Olympic swimsuits have also changed a lot over the years. The standard male swimmers uniform at the start was a full body suit. That and other non revealing pieces stuck up through the 1940s. They soon ditched

    Read More

  • Breaststroke Essay

    688 Words  | 2 Pages

    Simply Swim. "Perfect Breaststroke - Swimming Advice From Simply Swim." YouTube. YouTube, 24 June 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Swimmer By John Cheever

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The Swimmer” is the short story written by John Cheever and it is considered as one of his best short stories. It was published in the collection of short stories “The Brigadier and the Golf Widow”. This story is regarded as one of the best examples of Cheever's suburban stories. The story follows eight miles long way that Neddy Merrill tries to pass by swimming the pools of Westchester County. Neddy Merrill is represented as the main character of the story, whose retrospective of life is illustrated by swimming through the neighbor's pools. The plot of the story concerns the time passage and the main character's unawareness of the very same. At the begging of the story he is described as a happy, family man who lives the “American dream” but he ends up alone because he disregarded the

    Read More

  • The Fundamental Physics of Swimming

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... skills throughout our adolescence. The most common swimming techniques and or strokes include the: front crawl, back stroke, breaststroke, butterfly stroke, sidestroke and the dog paddle.

    Read More

  • Why Americans Should Have A Swimming Class

    482 Words  | 1 Pages

    These are three reasons why i think that swimming would benefit a student.First reason it would help them boost their metabolism and not only that but it would help them stay in shape not only that but also this too.But think it or not it helps you to keep burning calories.And it does not cause a injury because it is a life time healthy sport compare to other youth sports like soccer because in soccer you could injure you're foot and break a bone or even worse lose you're foot but in swimming you cant because they separate you and you're competitive with lines and you even feel calm and

    Read More

  • History of Swimming

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    To swim well u need to know how to coordinate your arms and legs to get you

    Read More

  • Olympic Swimming

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Finish, Finish, Go, and Go you just set the new world record. Every four years lots of people gather around a pool cheering for Olympians. It is a very noisy place. A lot of Olympians that are part of the summer Olympics are very athletic, they swim all year around. The swimming Olympic history and background is very interesting. They have done so many new things over that past couple of years. They come out with new rules every year to make things more fair and challenging. There are a lot of events and tons of records that have been broke. A lot of Olympians have set future goals to stride for. I was swimming the 200 meter fly I was at a really good time when I had 50 meter sprint left at the end all I could think about was I’m going to set the new world record. Olympic swimming is a very fun sport it is very athletic. Every year in the summer time every one always sits around a TV watching this it is very famous in America. Swimmers from all around the world come and here and compete. There is a lot of competition there I have found out a lot about the history of swimming. There are a lot of events and tons of records that have been broke. A lot of Olympians have set future goals to stride for.

    Read More

More about The History of the Sport of Swimming

Open Document