A brief history of Swimming

Swimming is an ancient activity that has taken place since both water and humans were on the earth.
Prehistoric drawings from the southwestern part of Egypt show original documentation of people
swimming. The images seem to show the dog paddle or breaststroke, but these may have been more
ritualistic than anything. Of course, anciently, swimming was done because it was necessary for survival.
Whether people needed to cross a river to safety on the other side or simply know how to tread water to
prevent drowning, swimming has certainly come a long way since its ancient days. Here is the history of
swimming in a competitive sense as it is known today.

Recognizing swimming

England is recognized as the first country to participate in swimming as a recreation and competitive
sport. In 1837, competitions were held in man-made pools in London. The National Swimming Society in
England organized the competitions which grew quickly in popularity. The very first indoor pool in the
history of swimming was constructed in 1862 in England. Soon, more pools were built and another
swimming organization was established in 1880. It was known as the Amateur Swimming Association of
Great Britain, an organization with more than 300 member clubs. The main swimming styles utilized in
competitions were the breaststroke and the recently-developed sidestroke.

Entering the Olympics

Swimming joined the Olympics in 1896 as a men’s sport. They competed in the categories of 100-meter
and 1500-meter Freestyle. These were held in open water. More Olympic events were soon added during
the history of swimming, including breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and individual medley. The first
few Olympic Games that featured swimming did not include women. It was not until 1912 that women’s
swimming made its debut. There are now 16 races held for men and women, totaling 32 altogether, in
each Summer Olympic Games. The Special Olympics also has 22 swimming categories for men and
women, totaling 44 altogether.

Modifying for speed

Modifications in swimming techniques occurred through this point in the history of swimming as
different counties changed the way they accomplished the backstroke and breaststroke. This occurred
between 1935 and 1945 and into the 1950s, creating controversy at the Olympics. Around this same time,
war shortages demanded a reduction in fabric for making swimming suits. Thus, the first two-piece
swimming suits were invented in 1943. Techniques for winning Olympic gold medals changed at this
time as swimmers spent more time under water to gain an advantage of speed. It is a technique that is still
used today.

Competitive swimming in Britain started around 1830, mostly using breaststroke. Swimming was part of
the first modern Olympic games in 1896 in Athens. In 1908, the world swimming association, Fédération
Internationale de Natation (FINA), was formed.
Benefits of Swimming: It Counts as Both Cardio and Strength Training

In swimming, if you aren't moving constantly, you're sinking. (Forced cardio!) Plus, water is about 800
times denser than air, says swimming and triathlon coach Earl Walton, owner of Tailwind Endurance in
New York City, so your muscles are under constant resistance. Finally, no more trying to decide if today
is going to be a strength or cardio day. (We suggest this pool workout for every skill level.)

Benefits of Swimming: It's Easy on the Impact

Yes, the low impact means swimming is a great workout for injured athletes, who need to take it easy on
their joints. But it may also mean more results: "You can swim at higher intensities on a regular basis
without feeling wear and tear on your body," Walton says. You could have a super-hard workout one day
and still be in the pool the next, he says. Bonus: Research in the International Journal of Sports
Medicine shows swimming is better than straight-up rest for exercise recovery, for when you want to take
it easy.

Benefits of Swimming: It's Great for Your Lungs

When your face is under water, oxygen is at a premium. In turn, your body adapts to use oxygen more
efficiently, Walton says. Plus, it learns to take in more fresh air with every breath, and expel more carbon
dioxide with every exhalation. A study in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology even
found that swimmers had better tidal volume (the amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs during
relaxed breathing) compared to runners. This results in lower resting heart rates, lower blood pressure,
and, as you'll see next, better running performance.

Benefits of Swimming: It Makes You a Better Runner

By increasing your ability to take in and effectively use oxygen, swimming increases your endurance
capacity like crazy, Walton says. That's great news if you're hoping to complete your first half-marathon
this year. It also means you can run faster mile after mile without getting winded. In a 2013 Scandinavian
Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports study, swimmers who followed a controlled breathing technique
(taking two breaths per pool length) improved their running economy by 6 percent after just 12 swim
sessions. Air-fueled benefits aside, swimming trains your glutes and hamstrings, your core, and your
shoulders—all of which are needed for improved running form and performances, Walton says.

Benefits of Swimming: Anyone Can Do It

Whether you're recovering from an injury, pregnant (Walton has trained women in the pool on their due
dates), a new mom, or an Ironman competitor, swimming can give you a great workout (um, as long as
you—you know—know how to swim). You control the pace, intensity, and what you get out of every
session, he says.

Benefits of Swimming: It Slashes Major Stress

While exercise-induced endorphins will do wonders for your stress levels, getting in the water for your
workout may have its own special brand of mood-boosting benefits, Walton says. Being submerged in
water dulls the amount of sensory information that bombards your body, helping to bring on feelings of
calm, according to a study published in Pain Research & Management. Researchers found that regular
flotation tank sessions were effective at relieving symptoms in patients suffering from conditions related
to chronic stress. No wonder you love soaking in the bathtub.
Benefits of Swimming: It Turns Back the Clock

Regular swimmers are biologically 20 years younger than their driver's licenses say they are, according to
research from Indiana University. Scientists say that, even up until your 70th birthday, swimming affects
blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cardiovascular performance, central nervous system health, cognitive
functioning, muscle mass, and blood chemistry to be much more similar to that of your younger self. Who
needs night cream?

Benefits of Swimming: It Hits Otherwise Underworked Muscles

"You don't sit at your desk with your arms over your head," Walton says. But when you're in the pool,
your arms are all over the place, meaning you need to work your often-neglected lats, deltoids, and traps,
he says. And we know you aren't targeting those when you're on a bike or pounding the pavement. Plus,
since so much of swimming is about staying balanced and level in the water (while both your arms and
legs are moving, mind you), swimming helps you develop the deep stabilizing muscles in your core and
lower back that women often miss.

Benefits of Swimming: It Makes You Smarter

Blood flow to the brain increased by up to 14 percent when men submerged themselves in water up to
their hearts, according to a Journal of Physiology study. Researchers believe water's pressure on the chest
cavity may have something to do with it, and they are now studying whether water-based workouts
improve blood flow to the brain better than do land-based ones. Stay tuned.

Benefits of Swimming: It Opens You Up to Awesome Experiences

Want to hop off the back of a boat? Swim across the San Francisco Bay? Go snorkeling in the Bahamas?
Win every game of Marco Polo? Mastering swimming will help you do all that, Walton says.
"Swimming's a life skill. It opens the doors to a lot of fun stuff."