Research Paper

In
Basic Swimming

History of Swimming
The history of swimming goes way back to that of prehistoric times. Books written
from 2000 to 1500 BC including the Bible have references to swimming. It was mostly
used in these times as a means of cleansing. Any form of competitive swimming wasn't
formed until the 1800's in Europe. It was included in the first Olympics in 1896 in
Athens, Greece.
It was noted that Ancient Egypt had cave drawings of humans swimming in the
nearby sea. They often depicted a form of the breaststroke as the first type of swimming
or something they used to call the front crawl. Ancient Egyptian, Grecian and Roman
palaces were often equipped with swimming pools or baths. Often reserved for the elite
that used them as relaxation pools and cleaning tubs.
It is noted by historians that swimming was also often used in battle. The Greeks
were often regarded as solid swimmers and at the Battle of Salamis after a number of
both Greek and Persian boats were destroyed it was said that all of the Persians
drowned due to their inability to swim while the Greek prevailed.
The history of swimming is much easier to understand than other sports. Without
any equipment to speak of an individual can take to the waters. Obviously those
countries that had the most access to water were the first to adapt to swimming. History
did not have the spreading of the sport as many other sports had encountered because
it was basically already available. You either adopted swimming as a means of life or
you just chose not to swim.
The evolution of swimming history expanded during the middle ages. A number
of individuals took it upon themselves to write books about swimming. They were often
focused on the ability to not drown rather than a perfect backstroke as you would
imagine. Life saving concepts and techniques began to form throughout the next few
hundred years and around the 18th and 19th century the sport began to evolve into
more of a competition than just life safety. Swimming Associations and Clubs popped

up all over the world. Some of the first in swimming history were in China, Sweden and
Germany.
Schools began to believe that swimming was a natural part of any life education.
Therefore, they began to teach swimming in schools not just as a life safety course but
as an extracurricular activity. Schools and Universities began to adopt these practices
and set up clubs and swim teams. Competitions began to arise around the mid 1800's.
England was the first to modernize the sport and incorporate an indoor swimming pool
with a swim team. They began to formulate new swimming styles including the
sidestroke. Shortly after this, variations of the freestyle began to form and credit can't
really be given to one person as so many were responsible for developing this
technique.
The Olympic Games of 1896 in Athens was the first real platform for the sport.
There only men competed in a number of events. Throughout the 1900's the sport
evolved and saw a number of stars arise. Johnny Weissmuller, the original Tarzan
completed his ten year career by never losing a race and winning five Olympic medals.
Science and technology began to play a part in the sport throughout the 1900's
as well. The swimsuits began to change as well as any form of resistance was under
scrutiny from all competitors. Goggles, swim caps and different variations of training
have all evolved as well. The US has seen its share of great Olympians going back to
Mark Spitz who won seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympics.
The sport has evolved to a very competitive and fun sport for anyone. That has
always been the great appeal that anyone can swim and we have been for the past
3000 years.
Swimming continues to be the sport of choice for many of todays athletes. Most
cities have public swimming facilities, where you can swim for competitively or merely
for fun. In fact, a number of public swimming areas also offer lessons for a very
reasonable price. If you are a keen swimmer, you might even consider installing a pool
in your backyard. With summer just around the corner, it would be a good time to start
planning.

Four Major Strokes in Swimming

Freestyle

In freestyle swimming events, as the name implies, the stroke used is not limited
by any particular technique. Swimmers in freestyle events are free to use any stroke
they wish, it is just that the stroke that is commonly called freestyle (which is also known
as the front crawl or Australian crawl), is the fastest swimming stroke. The only limits is
that only 15 meters can be swum underwater (from the start and from each turn),
otherwise some body part must always be above the water. It requires the movement of
one arm at a time, with a face lift on either side to facilitate breathing, and a leg motion
similar to a flutter kick which propels the body forward, piercing through the water.

Backstroke

The backstroke is the only type of swimming stroke that requires the individual to
already be in the water before start, that is, it cannot incorporate diving in its style of
swimming. In a back stroke, the swimmers back faces the surface of the swimming
pool, with the face and the upper body floating on the surface of the water, making
breathing the easiest of all swim strokes. Similar to the front crawl, in a back stroke you
perform the same flutter kick along with an alternative rotating arm movement to add
balance and propulsion to the stroke. At the start and first stroke and kick after a turn,
the swimmers are allowed one arm stroke and one leg kick. At all other times the
swimmer's head must be kept above the surface of the water. No dolphin, scissors or
flutter kicks are allowed, nor tumble turns.

Butterfly

The butterfly stroke is the newest out of all the types of swimming strokes
available to date. When swimming the butterfly stroke, the swimmers must keep their
shoulders in line with the surface of the water, and make arm and leg movements
together. They also must not swim underwater, except for the first stroke after the start
and each turn. Only 15 meters are allowed underwater at the start and after each turn,
and the wall must be touched with both hands. It is said to be one of the fastest swim
strokes, in fact, only second in line right after the front crawl. The butterfly stroke
requires an intense amount of upper body strength, making it one of the most
challenging types of swimming strokes, which is mostly used by professionals and
barely ever for recreational purposes. The butterfly stroke involves a dolphin kick
performed in a special two beat rhythm with a simultaneous arm movement in a
constant uninterrupted manner. The butterfly stroke is a swim stroke that requires the
most amount of technique, and it involves the abdominal, shoulder, chest and leg
muscles extensively into the swim routine.

Breaststroke

It is a swimming stroke in which a person lies face down in the water, extends the
arms in front of the head, pulls the arms back under the surface of the water, and then
performs a frog kick. The breast stroke has to be the slowest and the least efficient of
the 4 types of swimming strokes. In a breast stroke the arms and the legs move in a
simultaneous fashion, with the core of the propulsion being provided by the legs and the
feet. The feet are submerged under water, and the arm movement in a breast stroke is
probably the least impactful among all the 4 competitive types of swimming strokes. The
breast stroke is performed on the stomach and throughout the swimmer must try and
maintain a flat body position in order to execute the stroke properly.

Kinds of Swimming Equipments and Its

Uses
1. Swimming cap
A swim cap, swimming cap or bathing cap, is a
tightly

fitted, skin-tight

garment,

commonly

made

from silicone, latex or lycra, worn on the head by recreational

and competitive swimmers. Caps are worn for various
reasons. Some facilities require the wearing of swim caps, in
order

to

protect filters from

becoming

clogged

with

loose hairs which fall from the head of swimmers who are not
wearing a cap, or to ensure long loose hair does not get
caught in equipment. Caps are also sometimes worn in an attempt to keep hair
relatively dry or protect from chlorinated water, to keep the sun off the hair, and
also, when a cap is worn with ear plugs, in order to keep water out of the ears.
Competitive swim caps also reduce drag in the water caused by loose hair.
During longer swimming sessions, a swim cap keeps the wearer's head warm.

2. Goggles
Most pools contain high levels of chlorine or other
chemicals to help keep the water free of bacteria and
control the growth of algae in the water. However,
chlorine can irritate the eyes. Goggles allow you to see
while your head is immersed in the water, without having
to worry about chlorine irritation.

3. Swimsuit or trunks
A swimsuit or swimming trunks for men, is
an item of clothing designed to be worn by people
engaging in a water-based activity or water sports,
such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water
skiing etc.

4. Earplugs
An earplug is a device that is made up of rubber is
meant to be inserted in the ear canal to protect the user's
ears from loud noises or the intrusion of water, foreign
bodies, dust or excessive wind.

5. Nose clip
Swimming nose clips (also called nose plugs) are
those little pieces of bent wire padded with rubber that you
can stick on your nose and that are designed to keep the
water out by squeezing the nostrils together.

6. Kickboard
Swimming boards (often referred to as kickboards)
are a flotation aid used to develop a swimmer's kicking action.
They can be used on all strokes but are primarily used
on Freestyle, Butterfly stroke and Breaststroke. Swimmers of
all ability can use them. Young swimmers can develop their
kicking action while elite swimmers can refine their kick. They
are also used to strengthen swimmers legs.

7. Power Paddle
Swim paddles are tools used to provide more
resistance in the water when swimming or doing water
aerobics. Swimming with paddles is a great way to build
upper-body strength for a more powerful underwater
catch, pull and finish. A paddle with a surface area that is
larger than your hand will provide an increase in
resistance through the water. Hand paddles can teach you
how to use swim-specific muscles more effectively.

8. Fins
Using flippers will improve a swimmers body
position and their technique. When a swimmer uses fins,
they can move faster through the water and their body
will sit higher in the water. For those who have a poor
kick, or their legs sink, their feet will stay higher in the
water helping them to stay in a more streamlined
position. Fins will help you to increase your ankle
flexibility. If you can increase the range of motion in
your ankles you will move forward more quickly through the water.

9. Pull buoy
A pull buoy or leg float is a figure-eight shaped
piece of closed-cell foam used in swim workouts. Swimmers
place the buoy between their thighs or their ankles to
provide support to the body without kicking their legs; this
allows the swimmer to focus on training only their arms and
developing both endurance and upper body strength. Using
the pull buoy gives the arms a more focused workout by providing flotational
support for hips and legs.

Types of Underwater Activities

Underwater Photography
Underwater

photography is

the

process

of

taking photographs while under water. It is usually done

while scuba diving, but can be done while diving on surface
supply, snorkeling, swimming, from a submersible or remotely
operated underwater vehicle, or from automated cameras
lowered from the surface. Underwater photography can also
be categorised as an art form and a method for recording
data.

Sea Walking
Sea walking is a fairly new, but increasingly popular,
tourist activity that allows non-scuba divers (even nonswimmers) the opportunity to experience the underwater world
up close and personal. Meaning literally, walking under the
sea,

sea

walking

involves

donning

specially-made

pressurized helmet that is attached to a air hose on a guide

boat, climbing down into about 15 feet of ocean and walking
along the sea bed for 20 to 30 minutes where you can touch
marine plants and coral and even hand-feed tropical fish.

Spear fishing
Spear fishing is an ancient method of fishing that has
been used throughout the world for millennia. Early
civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish
from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks.

Recreational Diving
Recreational

diving or sport

diving is

type

of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of

leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term
"recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical
diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires
greater levels of training, experience and equipment.

Wreck Diving
Wreck

diving is

type

of recreational

diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck

dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend
to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites. Wreck
diving can also pertain to diving to crashed aircraft.

Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through
a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped
tube called a snorkel, and usually fins. Use of this equipment
allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for
extended periods of time with relatively little effort. The
primary appeal is the opportunity to observe underwater life in
a natural setting without the complicated equipment and
training required for scuba diving. It appeals to all ages
because of how little effort there is, and without the exhaled bubbles of scuba-diving
equipment.

Underwater Diving
Underwater

diving is

the

practice

of

going underwater, either with breathing apparatus (scuba

diving and surface supplied diving) or by breath-holding
(free diving). Atmospheric diving suits may be used to
isolate the diver from the effects of high ambient
pressure, or the saturation diving technique can be used
to reduce the risk of decompression sickness after deep
dives.

Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in
which a diver uses a self contained underwater breathing
apparatus (scuba) to breathe underwater. Unlike other
modes of diving, which rely either on breath-hold or on air
pumped from the surface, scuba divers carry their own
source

of breathing

gas,

(usually compressed

air),

allowing them greater freedom of movement than with

an air line or diver's umbilical and longer underwater
endurance than breath-hold. A scuba diver usually moves around underwater by
using fins attached to the feet, but external propulsion can be provided by a diver
propulsion vehicle, or a sled pulled from the surface.

Cave Diving
Cave diving is an underwater diving in caves which
are at least partially filled with water. The equipment used
varies depending on the circumstances, and ranges
from breath hold to surface supplied, but almost all cave
diving is done using scuba equipment.

Free Diving
Freediving, free-diving, or free diving is a form
of underwater diving that relies on a diver's ability to hold his
or her breath until resurfacing rather than on the use of a
breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.

Underwater Rugby
Underwater

rugby (UWR)

is

an underwater

sport whose play involves two teams seeking to gain control

of a slightly negatively buoyant ball (filled with saltwater) and
passing it into a heavy metal bucket serving as the
opponents goal at the bottom of a swimming pool. It has
little in common with rugby football except for the name.

Underwater Hockey
Underwater

Hockey (UWH),

(also

called Octopush (mainly in the UK)) is a globally played

limited-contact sport in which two teams compete to
manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming
pool into the opposing team's goal.

List of Professional Swimmers

Eric Buhain
Educational Background: He got into the varsity swimming
team of De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School.

Awards:
3-time MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) champion:

400 individual medley

100 butterfly
200 butterfly

SEA Games in 1987, 1989 and 1991

200 freestyle: Gold medal

100 butterfly: Gold medal
200 butterfly: Gold medal
400 individual medley: Gold medal
100 backstroke: Bronze medal
100 medley relay: Bronze medal
100 freestyle relay: Bronze medal
200 freestyle relay: Bronze medal

Akiko Thomson

Educational Background: Thomson graduated with a degree

in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley and then
took her masters in Business Administration at the Ateneo de
Manila University.

Awards:

Competed in South East Asian Games, Summer Olympics,

and Olympics in Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), and Atlanta (1996).

Won a Gold Medal in 1991 Asian Games.

Jaclyn Pangilinan
Educational Background: Pangilinan attended the Harvard
University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she majored in
Economics. Pangilinan pursued her MBA degree at the University
of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Awards:
Women's swimming
Competitor for the

Philippines

Southeast Asian Games

Silver

2005 Manila

200 m breaststroke

Silver

2005 Manila

4100 m medley

Bronze

2005 Manila

100 m breaststroke

Bronze

2007 Bangkok

100 m breaststroke

Bronze

2007 Bangkok

200 m breaststroke

Raphael Matthew Chua

Educational Background: Took an engineering course at
the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.

Awards:
Men's swimming
Competitor for the

Philippines

Southeast Asian Games

Bronze

2005 Manila

100 m breaststroke

Bronze

2005 Manila

4100 m medley

Park Tae-hwan
Educational Background: Park graduated from Dankook
University in February 2012, where he majored in physical
education.

Awards:
Olympic Games

Gold

2008 Beijing

Asian Games
Gold

2006 Doha

200 m freestyle

400 m freestyle

Gold

2006 Doha

400 m freestyle

Gold

2006 Doha

1500 m

Silver

2008 Beijing

200 m freestyle

Silver

2012 London

400 m freestyle

Silver

2012 London

200 m freestyle

freestyle
Gold

World Championships (LC)

Gold

2007

400 m freestyle

Gold

Bronze

2011 Shanghai
2007

100 m freestyle

2010

200 m freestyle

Guangzhou

Melbourne
Gold

2010
Guangzhou

400 m freestyle

Gold

200 m freestyle
Silver

Melbourne
World Championships (SC)
Silver

2006 Shanghai

400 m freestyle

Silver

2006 Shanghai

1500 m

Silver
Silver

400 m freestyle

2006 Doha

100 m freestyle

2010

1500 m

Guangzhou

freestyle

2010

4x100 m

Guangzhou

medley

Bronze

2006 Doha

4x100 m

Bronze

2006 Doha

4x200 m

Freestyle
International aquatics competitions
Event
1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games
1
3
0
World Championships
2
0
1
(LC)
World Championships
0
2
0
(SC)
Asian Games
6
3
5
Pan Pacific
4
2
0
Championships
Total
13
10
6

2010
Guangzhou

freestyle
freestyle