Saavedra, Therese Angel G.

PE 004

12-STEMB1 01/16/19

1. Definition of Swimming

Swimming, in recreation and sports, the propulsion of the body through water by combined arm
and leg motions and the natural flotation of the body. Swimming as an exercise is popular as an
all-around body developer and is particularly useful in therapy and as exercise for physically
handicapped persons. It is also taught for lifesaving purposes. For activities that involve
swimming, see also diving, lifesaving, surfing, synchronized swimming, underwater diving, and
water polo.

2. History of Swiimming

In 1904 the Olympic Games in St Louis, Missouri, held the 50 yards (46 m), 100 yards, 220
yards (200 m), 440 yards, 880 yards (800 m) and one mile (1.6 km) freestyle; 100 yards (91 m)
backstroke and 440 yards (400 m) breaststroke; and the 4 × 50 yards freestyle relay. In the
history of swimming, this was the first time that the Olympics specified if an event was freestyle
or breaststroke.

In 1908 the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA), which is the world’s first
swimming association, was formed.

In 1912 at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, women swam competitively for the first time.
Women’s races were held in the 100 m freestyle and the 100 m freestyle relay. The men’s
events were the 100 m, 400 m, and 1500 m freestyle; 100 m backstroke; 200 m and 400 m
breaststroke; and a 4 × 200 m freestyle relay. This was a milestone Olympic Games for
swimming. Women were being allowed to compete for the first time in the history of swimming,
and men had an extensive list of competitive races that were held.

In 1922, Johnny Weissmuller became the first person to swim 100 m in under a minute.
Weissmuller went on to win five Olympic medals and 36 national championships, igniting an
interest in competitive swimming that was never seen before. Weissmuller never lost a race
over a career spanning ten years. His record of 51 seconds in the 100 yard freestyle event was
unbroken for the next 17 years. He later garnered Hollywood fame as the star of numerous
Tarzan films. Also in 1922, female swimmer Sybil Bauer was the first woman to break the men’s
440 m backstroke record. Competitive swimming went to the forefront of sports due to these
record-breaking feats.

Mark Spitz in 1972 broke all records in the history of swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics
and won seven gold medals. Spitz was a phenomenal swimmer and won a total of 9 Olympic
gold medals, a silver, a bronze, five Pan Am golds, 31 other amateur titles, and 8 college titles.
He accumulated this impressive total of titles between the years of 1968–1972. Spitz, at the
1972 Olympics, broke world records in each of the seven events he won gold medals.

Competitive swimming has not seen the likes of Spitz until Michael Phelps. As of this date,
Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals. Phelps won six gold and two bronze medals in 2004 in
Athens. In 2008 at the Beijing Olympics he won eight gold medals. With these
accomplishments, Phelps has twice tied with a total record of eight gold medals at one
Olympics.

The history of swimming has been a documented and varied one. From the sidestroke to the
current freestyle strokes, swimming has, and continues to be, an exciting and ever-evolving
sport.

3. Basic Skills

a.) Floating

Floating, or keeping your body in a horizontal position in the water, is a basic water skill. If you
accidentally fall in the water, you may be able to float until you are rescued, even if you are not
strong enough to swim to safety. Humans are naturally buoyant, and floating is not difficult. Like
any other skill, however, floating does require a bit of technique. Get lessons from a coach or a
competent friend or relative.

b.) Breath holding

Swimming, like all exercise, requires plenty of oxygen in your body to keep you from fainting.
You should never hold your breath while you are swimming, as it could cause you to black out
or drown. Instead, learning how to breathe properly while you swim can help you exercise safely
and more effectively. You can also do special exercises to increase your lung capacity. To see if
your hard work is paying off, try a sinking exercise in the pool to practice exhaling underwater.

c.) Bobbing

Bobbing, where you sink underwater and slowly exhale a stream of bubbles through your nose
and mouth, is a way to grow familiar with breath control. When you return to the surface, inhale
and then sink back into the water and exhale again.

d.) Streamline

Streamline form is a swimming technique that is used underwater in every stroke. At the start of
a race or on a turn, streamline form is used, usually along with a dolphin kick or flutter kick, to
create the least amount of resistance to help the swimmer propel as far as they can.

4. 4 types of strokes

a.) Backstroke

When swimming the backstroke, your face is to the sky because you’re on your back. Think of
this as the stroke you learn after you learn how to float. To get moving doing the backstroke, lay
on your back, extend your arms st

a.) Backstroke

When swimming the backstroke, your face is to the sky because you’re on your back. Think of
this as the stroke you learn after you learn how to float. To get moving doing the backstroke, lay
on your back, extend your arms straight in front of you, and then, in an alternating fashion, pull
your arm (thumbs out) behind your head before landing pinky first into the water. The stroke
doesn’t stop when you hit the water. Keep on pulling that arm through until you’ve reached a
360-degree turn. Then repeat with the other arm. While performing this cyclical pattern, your
feet will remain in a constant flutter kick, working with your upper body to propel you swiftly
through the water.

b.) Butterfly
The butterfly is often the stroke that will be pretty tricky for your child. For this stroke, you are on
your stomach in the water. Start by placing both of your arms straight in front of you at the 12
o’clock position, palms slightly tilted outward at about a shoulder’s width apart. For the arm
motion, move your arms through the surface of the water downward to perform a semicircular
pattern until your arms resurface. While performing this arm movement, your legs should be
scurrying through the water in a dolphin-like fashion.

c.) Freestyle

You’re probably already familiar with the freestyle stroke without even knowing it! It probably
was the first stroke you learned as a kid. Freestyle is performed face down, with alternating
movement of the arms. Each stroke is performed by driving an arm forward and pushing the
water below the surface to propel you forward. Your body (hips and shoulders) should tilt with
each arm stroke. As you move your arms, turn your face to the side to breathe. You should
always be looking at the bottom of the pool, or to the side, never lifting your head out of the
water to look straight ahead. While your arms are rotating, your legs should be in a constant
flutter kick.

d.) Breaststroke

The breaststroke is the fourthand final competitive swim stroke. In fact, it reminds a lot of people
of the movement of a frog! Start face down in the water with your arms at your side. For the arm
motion, push your hands forward (about shoulder-width apart) all the way before settling into a
curvature motion, each arm pressing away from your body, through the water and then back to
it to complete the circle. Each time your hands meet in front of you, bring your chest out of the
water to take a breath.