Swimming facts for kids

A competitive swimmer performing the breaststroke

Swimming is moving your body through water using your arms and legs. People swim in oceans, lakes, rivers, and pools. It's a fun way to exercise, play sports, or just relax.

To swim, you use special movements called strokes. These movements help you push against the water. This creates power to move you forward. Swimming is a great skill for everyone to learn.

It's a very popular activity and a competitive sport. Swimming offers many health benefits. It makes your heart stronger and builds muscle. It also helps you become more flexible. People of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy swimming.

In many countries, swimming lessons are a required part of school. Swimming is also a big sport. You can see it in local, national, and international competitions. It's even a major event in every modern Summer Olympics.

There are four main swimming strokes. The front crawl, also called freestyle, is usually the fastest. Other strokes are used for different reasons, like training.

Swimming in water has some risks. Sometimes, swimmers can get tired or scared. This can lead to drowning. Other risks include getting an infection or encountering dangerous water animals. To stay safe, many places have lifeguards. They watch out for anyone who might need help.

Swimmers usually wear special swimwear. This clothing helps them move easily in the water. You can also use equipment like swimming goggles, floatation devices, swim fins, and snorkels. These items can make swimming more fun or help you swim better.

How Swimming Works

Swimmers perform squats before entering the pool.

Swimming works because your body can float. This is called buoyancy. Your body is usually a little lighter than water. This helps you stay on top.

How much you float depends on a few things. These include how much air is in your lungs. It also depends on your body's muscle and fat. Saltier water also helps you float more easily.

Because water supports your body, swimming is a "low-impact" exercise. This means it's gentle on your joints. Water also creates resistance. This resistance helps you push yourself forward. But it also creates drag, which slows you down.

To swim faster, swimmers learn about hydrodynamics. This is the science of how things move through water. Swimmers try to make their bodies smooth. This helps reduce drag. They also try to make their strokes powerful.

Before jumping into the pool, swimmers often do warm-up exercises. For example, squats help warm up leg muscles. This can give them a better start.

Baby Swimming Skills

Did you know babies have a natural swimming ability? From birth until about ten months, babies have a diving reflex. This means they can hold their breath underwater. Their heart rate also slows down.

Many places offer swimming classes for babies. These classes help babies learn to be comfortable in water. They also help strengthen their natural swimming skills. This can help them become strong swimmers early in life.

Swimming Styles and Strokes

Kids enjoying while swimming in a lake.

There are many ways to swim. These different ways are called 'strokes'. Each stroke has a special purpose. Some are for racing, and some are for relaxing.

If you're just learning, you might use a "doggy paddle". This is a simple way to move your arms and legs. It's similar to how some animals swim.

In competitive swimming, there are four main strokes:

• Front crawl (also called freestyle)
• Breaststroke
• Backstroke
• Butterfly

Other strokes are used for fun or special situations. The sidestroke is one example. It's often used in lifesaving because it helps you see ahead. Some strokes are also used for training specific body parts.

History of Swimming

Timurid conqueror Babur's troops swim across a river.

People have been swimming for a very long time. The oldest records are Stone Age paintings. These paintings are about 7,000 years old. Ancient writings also mention swimming. These include the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad.

Ancient cultures knew the importance of swimming. In 450 BC, Herodotus wrote about people who couldn't swim. They faced danger in the water. The Romans knew about tribes who were great swimmers. These tribes could even cross rivers in full armor.

The Talmud, an ancient Jewish text, says fathers should teach their sons to swim. In 1538, Nikolaus Wynmann wrote the first full book about swimming. It was called The Swimmer.

Competitive swimming began in Europe around 1800. The breaststroke was one of the first styles used. In 1873, the trudgen stroke became popular. Swimming became an Olympic sport in 1896. The butterfly was developed in the 1930s. It became a separate competitive stroke in 1953.

Why People Swim

People swim for many different reasons. It can be for fun, for a job, or to help heal injuries. Swimming can also be a professional sport.

Recreational Swimming

Children's bathing beach, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 1905

Many people swim just for fun. It's one of the most popular activities. Recreational swimming can be great exercise. It's also a way to relax and reduce stress.

Because water supports your body, swimming is gentle. This makes it good for people who can't do other activities. It's a calming activity that helps us feel good.

Health Benefits of Swimming

Chuck Sketch, a former U.S. Marine and a Wounded Warrior, swims laps during a practice session at the 2012 Marine Corps Trials.

Swimming is a fantastic aerobic exercise. It makes your heart and lungs stronger. Regular swimming also helps build and tone muscles. It can help you manage your weight too.

Swimming is good for people with arthritis. It lets them exercise joints without pain. Water's buoyancy reduces stress on joints. It's also a great exercise for kids and older adults.

Swimming can help reduce stress. It improves health for people with heart problems. It also helps with chronic illnesses. A 2025 study found that swimming outdoors can improve your well-being.

Swimming for Everyone

Since 2010, swimming pools in the United States must be accessible. This means they are designed for disabled swimmers.

Swimming is also perfect for older adults. It's a low-impact sport with little risk of injury. It works all muscle groups. This helps with conditions like muscular dystrophy. It also helps relieve pain from arthritis.

Swimming as a Sport

Start of the 4 × 100 meters men's relay during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

In competitive swimming, people race to be the fastest. They swim different distances using various strokes. Swimming has been an Olympic sport since 1896. Olympic events range from 50 meters to 1500 meters.

Competitive swimmers train hard every day. They build endurance and strength. They also practice to improve their technique.

The sport is managed by World Aquatics. This organization used to be called FINA. It changed its name in December 2022. World Aquatics sets rules for international competitions.

Other water sports include open water swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo.

Swimming Safety

Safety is very important when swimming. Always swim in areas with lifeguards. Be aware of dangers like strong currents or things underwater.

One of the main risks of swimming is drowning. This can happen if someone gets too tired or is not experienced. From 2005 to 2014, about 10 people drowned each day in the United States.

Lifeguards are trained to prevent drownings. They supervise pools, waterparks, lakes, and beaches. They learn different skills for different water environments. Organizations like the National Lifesaving Society train lifeguards.

Learning basic water safety is key for all swimmers. Always swim with a friend. Know what to do in an emergency.

Swimming for Work

Some jobs require swimming skills. These include abalone and pearl diving. Spearfishing also needs strong swimmers.

Swimming is also used to rescue people in water. Lifeguards and rescue swimmers save people in danger. They use special swimming styles for rescues.

Marine biology uses swimming to study sea life. Scientists observe plants and animals in their natural homes.

Swimming has military uses too. Special forces like Navy SEALs use swimming for missions. They might approach locations or gather information underwater. All recruits in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard learn basic swimming.

Swimming can also be a professional sport. Swimmers compete internationally. Many hope to represent their country in the Olympics. Some professional swimmers also perform in water ballets.

Swimming for Travel

Sometimes, people swim short distances when other ways to travel are not possible. This might happen if they need to get to shore from a boat.

Risks of Swimming

A sign warns hikers on the trail to Hanakāpīʻai Beach.

Man smiling to camera while ice swimming at a summer cottage in Finland

Being in water can have risks. It's important to know about them to stay safe.

Common risks include:

• Panic: Feeling scared can make it hard to swim. This can lead to drowning.
• Exhaustion: Getting too tired can make you unable to swim. This can also lead to drowning.
• Hypothermia: Losing too much body heat in cold water. This can make you unconscious.
• Dehydration: Not having enough water in your body. This can happen from long exposure to saltwater.
• Blunt trauma: Getting hurt by fast-moving water or objects. This can happen in floods or rivers.

Other effects of swimming can be:

• Swimmer's ear: Water in the ear can cause ear problems.
• Infection: Germs in the water can cause infections.
• Chlorine inhalation: Breathing in too much chlorine in pools.
• Heart attacks: These are rare but can happen during intense swimming.
• Encounters with aquatic life: Stings from jellyfish or minor bites from some aquatic animals.

Safety equipment is important around pools. Lifeguards are needed at public pools and competitions.

Swimming Lessons

A Styrofoam flotation aid being used

Learning to swim is a very important skill. Many experts now recommend infant swimming lessons. These lessons help prevent drowning from a young age.

In some countries, like Sweden and Finland, swimming lessons are part of school. Children are expected to learn to swim a certain distance. This includes swimming on their back.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, school swimming is supported by the government. Many schools offer these lessons. France also makes swimming a required part of primary school.

In the UK, there's a "Top-ups scheme." It gives extra lessons to children who can't swim well. This helps them meet national standards.

In the United States, programs like Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) teach babies. They learn how to roll onto their back and float. This helps them stay safe if they fall into water.

Swimwear and Equipment

Swimsuits

Boardshorts, a type of male casual swimwear

A man and woman in competitive swimwear during a synchronised swimming event

Wearing the right clothes for swimming is important. Most places expect swimmers to wear proper swimsuits.

Boys and men often wear swim trunks. These can be like shorts or briefs. For casual swimming, boardshorts are popular. In most cases, boys and men swim with their upper body uncovered.

Girls and women usually wear one-piece swimsuits or bikinis. These suits are designed to fit snugly. One-piece suits are often preferred for competitive swimming. They offer comfort and modesty.

Different cultures have different standards for swimsuits. In Muslim communities, women may choose to wear Hijab modified swimsuits, sometimes called burkini.

Different cultures have different standards for swimwear. For example, in some Muslim communities, women wear burkinis. These swimsuits cover more of the body.

Competitive swimwear is made to help swimmers go faster. These suits are tight and lightweight. They are used in races and other water sports.

Wetsuits are used for swimming in cold water. They keep you warm and help you float. Wetsuits are a good choice for long swims in chilly conditions.

Swimming Accessories

Many accessories can make swimming better:

• Earplugs stop water from entering your ears.
• Noseclips keep water out of your nose.
• Goggles protect your eyes from chlorine. They also help you see underwater.
• Swim caps keep your hair out of the way. They also help you glide through the water.
• Kickboards help you practice your leg kicks.
• Pull buoys help you practice your arm strokes.
• Swimfins make your kicks stronger and faster. They are great for training.
• Hand paddles increase resistance for arm movements. This helps build strength.
• Snorkels help you breathe while keeping your face in the water.
• Pool noodles are foam tubes that help you float.
• Swimming parachutes add resistance for training. This builds power.
• Inflatable armbands are aids that help young swimmers float.

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