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History
Swimming can be dated back to the Stone Age, but did not truly become an organized sport until the early 19th century.
Prehistoric man learnt to swim in order to cross rivers and lakes.
Swimming was not widely practised until the early 19th century when the National Swimming Society of Great Britain began to hold competitions. Most early swimmers used the breaststroke or a form of it.
Swimming was included in the Olympic Games in 1896 in Greece. Since then, it has been featured in the Summer Olympic Games program.
Basic Rules
The goal of a competition is a race against the other swimmers and the clock. The Olympic-size swimming pool is 50 m long and 25 m wide.
At the starter’s signal, the competitors take their positions at the starting blocks (or backstroke grips). At the second signal (electronic tone) they dive into the pool. If a swimmer has a false start, they are disqualified.
During the race, the swimmers must stay in their lanes.
Equipment
Earplugs/Nose Clips - Some swimmers use earplugs to block water from entering the ear canal while they are swimming. Some swimmers also use nose clips
Goggles - Goggles allow you to see while your head is submerged in the water without having to worry about chlorine irritation.
Swim Caps - swim caps reduce drag to increase speed in the water. Swim caps also keep hair out of the face.
Pull buoys are foam flotation devices that can be placed between the legs and used to strengthen and place focus on the arm technique. The pull buoy forces swimmers to rely less on their legs to push through the water and more on their arms.
Kickboards switch the majority of work on the legs when swimming to strengthen the legs as well as help develop proper kicking techniques.
Swim paddles develop arm strength by increasing resistance in the water, and they also help develop proper stroke mechanics.
Coaches and timers at meets use stopwatches to help keep track of completion times for swimmers.
Swimmers use lap counters in competition to help keep track of how many more laps they need to complete their event.
Lane dividers consist of buoys that are strung on ropes and placed across the pool to divide the water into several swimming lanes.
Swimming Strokes
There are four competitive strokes used in Olympic swimming: freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke.
Freestyle
The swimmers hold their breath and concentrate until the start signal is given. They then push off strongly with their legs, stretching their bodies fully.
Once under the water, the swimmers return to the surface with powerful flutter kicks. They must not remain submerged for more than 15 meters.
The legs are submerged and perform flutter kicks, while the arms are alternately lifted forward and then pulled through the water. The swimmers breathe out when their head is submerged.
The swimmers bend their bodies, dive slightly toward the bottom of the pool, and somersault. They can touch the wall with any part of their bodies, but they, in fact, use their feet to gain impetus (to push off the wall) as they stretch their bodies.
Answer the questions
1.How long can a swimmer remain submerged after the start?
2.How do you swim freestyle?
3.When do you breathe when swimming freestyle?
4.How do you perform a flip turn?
5.Why do swimmers use their feet at the flip turn?
Translate the sentences:
The freestyle is the fastest stroke in swimming.
2. You alternate your arms one by one and breathe to the side.
3. You flutter kick with your legs to stay high and balanced in the water.
4. Start to pull with the catch position.
5. Bend your elbow and point your fingers to the bottom.
6. From here, push the water backward, keeping your elbows up and slightly bent.
7. Pull through at shoulder width and keep your wrists tight and locked.
8. Finish your stroke as far as you can, exiting the water at your hip.
9. During the recovery, let your elbow lead your arm back to the front, keeping the elbow at the highest point.
10. Once your arm passes your shoulder, initiate the catch with your other arm. Timing is important.
11. Breathe in to the side by rotating your body and turning your head during the recovery phase.
12. Make sure you keep one arm stretched in front of you for support while breathing.
13. Keep your head in a neutral position while breathing out underwater.
14. Face down towards the bottom of the pool.
Backstroke
Backstroke comprises alternate movements of the arms with flutter kicks while lying face up.
At the start both feet should remain under water and after the start, the swimmer can be underwater for 15 meters.
Keep your head back and your eyes toward the ceiling.
You can find your own breathing pattern because, here, breathing is less coordinated with the arms and kicks than with other strokes since your head should always be out of water.
Translate the sentences
1. The body position – it should be high horizontal in the water to prevent drag.
2. The head should be in a neutral position and stable.
3. The pull-through after the backstroke takes place behind your back.
4. You need to create space for your shoulders and arms to grab the water beneath you without going too wide or too shallow.
5. The backstroke is a kick-driven stroke.
6. The flutter kicks should be constant to stay high in the water.
7. The moment you drop your chin or move your head too much, you will lose control of your stroke and your body line.
8. Rotate your shoulders and hips along your vertical axis to catch that water beneath you.
9. Your feet are constantly kicking.
10. Your arms are pulling in a continuous cycle.
11. There is no catching up in backstroke.
12. Your thumb exits the water at the hips.
13. Your arm reaches up, lifting the shoulder completely out of the water, and your pinkie enters the water first.
14. To prevent water from coming into your nose, breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose.
15. Look straight up by lifting your chin.
16. Keep your head in a neutral and stable position.
17. During the recovery, reach towards the ceiling.
Breaststroke
The body must remain fully stretched and in a stomach-down position. The swimmers perform one complete pull of the arms before kicking with the legs. They can perform only one complete stroke underwater after the start and after each turn.
The arms make three lateral movements in the following order: an “outward pull” (away from the body), then a “downward pull” (toward the bottom of the pool), and finally an “inward pull” (toward the body).
In the kick, the legs bend to propel the swimmer and return to their initial position.
Answer the questions:
1.How do you swim backstroke?
2.When do you breathe when swimming backstroke?
3.How do you swim breaststroke?
4.How many arm movements do you make when swimming breaststroke?
Translate the sentences
1. The breaststroke is very timing-sensitive. It’s all about rhythm and timing.
2. Propelling comes from the kick and the pull that occurs separately.
3. The legs must be streamlined behind the swimmer.
4. As your arms start the pull phase, lift your head and even your chest out of the water to breathe.
5. By coming out of the water, you create space for your legs to kick.
6. The high elevation of the upper body reduces the resistance of the water.
7. When starting your pull, you also start initiating the kick by pulling up your heels toward your butt.
8. While you kick the water back strongly, fall back into the streamline with your head between your arms.
9. Breathe out and start the cycle again.
10. When kicking, keep your knees together as much as possible to minimize resistance.
Butterfly
The butterfly stroke is one of the most difficult swimming strokes.
The arm movement in butterfly stroke can be broken down into three parts: the pull, the push and the recovery.
Start with your arms extended above your head (shoulder-width apart), pull your hands towards your body in a semicircular motion, palms facing outwards.
At the end of the pull, begin pushing your palms backward through the water, along your sides, and past your hips.
The last part of the butterfly arm movement is the recovery, where your hands are getting ready to begin the next stroke while finishing your pull.
The dolphin kick is the name given to the dolphin-like kick of the legs used in butterfly stroke.
Move your body in a wave-like fashion. It's not just your arms and legs that are required during the butterfly stroke; your whole body needs to get involved!
The correct point to take a breath during the butterfly stroke is when your arms are just coming out of the water at the beginning of the recovery phase.
As your arms are about to come out of the water, raise your head until your chin is just above the water and take a breath. Do not turn your head to the left or right - it should be kept straight.
Answer the questions:
1.Which is one of the most difficult swimming strokes?
2.What are the arm movements in butterfly?
3.How do you call the leg movements in butterfly?
4.When do you breathe when swimming butterfly?
Translate the sentences
1. The butterfly is the hardest swimming stroke.
2. There is no rotation of the torso.
3. Both arms move over the water at the same time.
4. It is supported by a dolphin-like kick that is initiated from the chest.
5. Your body moves in a dolphin-like motion.
6. Press the chest down and lift the hips to create the undulation effect.
7. The butterfly kick is a downward motion with both feet together.
8. The hands enter the water shoulder-width apart.
9. In the shape of a giant keyhole, your hands pull and push the water back toward your hips.
10. Keep the elbows bent and pointed upwards to the surface as much as possible.
11. To breathe, lift your head up out of the water during the recovery.
12. The chin is tilted slightly, keeping it as close to the water surface as possible.
13. Lifting your chest up too high will create a lot of drag.
14. Return the chin in a neutral position before the hands reenter the water.
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