Swimmers compete in four strokes in competitive swimming: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle or crawl. In the individual medley events, one swimmer utilizes all four strokes in the same race.
Although swimmers in the freestyle events may use any type of swimming stroke they choose, the front, or Australian, crawl is considered the fastest of the strokes and the one most likely utilized in elite freestyle competitions. In the crawl stroke, the arms are carried over the head in an alternating motion while the legs provide a flutter kick.
In turning and finishing, the swimmer must touch the end of the pool with any part of the body. There are six freestyle events contested at the international level (50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, women's 800m and men's 1500m) compared with two distances in the other events.
Times continue to drop in the backstroke due to rule changes that allow swimmers to do flip turns at the wall. Previously, backstrokers were required to touch the wall at each turn with at least one hand, but the 1991 rule allows swimmers to flip at the wall and touch with their feet. Placed across the pool five meters from each end, special backstroke flags help orient competitors on their approach to the wall.
Competing entirely on their backs, backstroke swimmers use a rapid flutter kick with an alternating motion of their arms to propel through the water.
In the backstroke, swimmers start in the water and may remain submerged up to 15 meters before breaking the surface to begin the stroke above water. The 15-meter rule was instituted after David Berkoff of the United States used his "Berkoff Blastoff," a 40-meter underwater start, to set the world record at the 1988 Olympic Games.
The oldest of the competitive strokes, the breaststroke is also the slowest. However, the stroke is a powerful and graceful event combining a simultaneous two-armed underwater pull with a precisely-timed frog kick. The body must be parallel to the surface of the water at all times during the breaststroke and competitors must touch the wall with both hands at each turn and at the finish.
Considered the most physically demanding of the strokes, the butterfly requires a combination of strength and technique. In the butterfly, the arms are simultaneously brought overhead while the legs are moved together to produce a powerful dolphin kick. By rule, no alternating leg movement is permitted.
As in the breaststroke, the butterfly requires the swimmer to touch the end of the pool with both hands before the turn and at the finish. The newest of the Olympic strokes, the butterfly became an Olympic event at the 1956 Games in Melbourne.
Contested at the 200- and 400-meter distances, the individual medley combines all four strokes in a single swimmer's race. Beginning with the butterfly, competitors swim an equal distance with each stroke, switching to the backstroke, then the breaststroke and concluding the race with the freestyle.
Four-member teams compete in 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m freestyle relays in addition to a 4 x 100m medley relay. This year marks the debut of the women's 4 x 200m relay in Olympic competition. Swimmers in the first three legs are required to touch the wall before the next swimmer may leave the starting block.
In the medley relay, each swimmer swims one of the four strokes beginning with the backstroke and proceeding with the breaststroke, the butterfly and freestyle.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for
the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department. Written by Howard
Thomas.
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