A Look At The History of Competitive Swimming

Have you ever thought how competitive swimming started?  Well, it’s a fact that it has evolved through the centuries, and even until now, it still continues to develop as a sport.  Truly, swimming has been one of the successful and popularized sports nowadays.  So now, let’s take a look at memory lane to trace how people developed swimming into a well-loved sport; enjoy knowing the history of competitive swimming through the following brief discussion. 

Swimming started from the time of the Egyptians, thousands of centuries ago, as shown through their hieroglyphs.  Although, it has only gained more attention and acknowledgement in the 1st century A.D.     

However, the history of competitive swimming dates back only in the 19th century, when it gained appreciation and popularity in England.  But in Japan, there are records showing that swimming competitions have been held since 36 B.C., and a national swimming competition was held in 1603. 

Even before swimming was included in the Olympics, there have been several swimming competitions and learning schools started and developed around Europe.  And when swimming has become one of the Olympic sports in 1896, its success as a sport has skyrocketed ever since, inviting more people to swim and compete.  Though it was only a male-only sport in the Olympics in Greece, there were several swimming events competed during that time.  And it was only in 1912, that women were able to compete in the Olympic Games, but only in freestyle races. 

More improvements in the strokes were being introduced, which gradually developed into the classic and modern styles; and various rules have been constantly changed and added to enhance the competition.  As more people became aware of this sport, organizations and foundations were being organized to hold several swimming meets and competitions.  As time passes, swimming suits have become more specialized, more races and swimming types were being competed, and other water sports --- above or under water --- have been raced.  

Looking at the history of competitive swimming, one would see that it hasn’t been a one-time show.  It has progressed from a an individual race to a team relay, from a male-only competition to a woman’s game, from a few meter race to more than a hundred meters, from an all-covered or one-piece suit to a specialized one, and etc.  It is in viewing or glancing this history of competitive swimming that one would realize that it wasn’t an easy feat at all, that even until now, it’s gradually changing based on the times.

So, the next time you watch a swimming competition, know that --- it took centuries for it to have become like that sport you enjoy watching and cheering.