Swimming

Swimming is a fun water sport. People move through the water using their arms and legs. Swimmers race in pools or open water. Swimming is good exercise for your whole body. It is also a skill that can help keep you safe in the water.

Swimming Strokes

There are four main swimming strokes. The freestyle is the fastest stroke. The backstroke is swum on your back. The breaststroke looks a bit like a frog kicking. The butterfly is the hardest stroke. Swimmers move both arms together like wings. Each stroke has its own way of moving and breathing.

An old painting of a man swimming bravely across a wide sea.
An old painting of a man swimming bravely across a wide sea. (Bernard Picart / Wikimedia Commons)

Swimming in the Olympics

Swimming is a big part of the Summer Olympics. Swimmers from all over the world come to race. They swim in a long pool that is 50 meters long. Winners get gold, silver, or bronze medals. Many kids dream of swimming in the Olympics one day. Famous swimmers train for many hours every day.

Fun Facts

  • The fastest swimmers can swim faster than 5 miles per hour.
  • Humans have been swimming for thousands of years.
  • Swimming uses almost every muscle in your body.

Did You Know?

Michael Phelps has won more Olympic gold medals than any other athlete. He won 23 gold medals in swimming!