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The start
Swimming become a competitive sport in the early 1800's -
Matthew Webb
In 1875, Matthew Webb ignited public interest in swimming when he became the first person to swim across the English Channel. Swimming only breastroke, it took him more than 21 hours to complete this feat. Read more at: http://swim.isport.com/swimming-history/ -
1896
In 1896, the first modern Olympic Gamesmen competed in four swimming events, in the first modern Olympic Games men competed in four swimming events, all contested in the choppy open water of the Mediterranean Sea -
the freestyle
In the early years of recreational and competitive swimming, At first breastroke was the only stroke swum. In 1902, Australian Richard Cavill was the first to swim with an up-and-down kick and alternating over-arm recoveries. This stroke, dubbed the “Australian crawl,” now known as freestyle. -
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller became the first man to break the one-minute barrier in the 100 Freestyle in 1912. Read more at: http://swim.isport.com/swimming-history/ -
Olympic swimming women
The first time a women competed in Olympic swimming since swimming become competitive -
Gertrude Ederle
In 1926, Gertrude Ederle, at age 19, became the first woman to swim the English Channel. She beat the contemporary men’s record by two hours, and secured her place in history as the first woman in a major sport to best a men’s record. Read more at: http://swim.isport.com/swimming-history/ -
Butterfly
In the 1930s Americans David Armbruster and Jack Sieg came up with the double over-the-water arm recovery and the dolphin kick, respectively, which combined to form butterfly. It was allowed as an alternative form of breastroke until the 1950s, when it was declared a separate stroke. Read more at: http://swim.isport.com/swimming-history/ -
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Butterfly
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GOGGLES
In the 1976 Olympics swimmers were finally allowed to wear goggles. -
MIchael Phelps
it is now the 21st centary and Michael Phelps is the new face of the Olympic swimmers.
Phelps' achievements in 2008 Summer Games include: Gold - 400m individual medley (World record: 4:03.84) Gold - 4x100m free relay (World record: 3:08.24) Gold - 200m freestyle Gold - 200m butterfly (World record: 1:52.03) Gold - 4x200m free relay (World record: 6:58.56) Gold - 200m individual medley (World record: 1:54.23) Gold - 100m butterfly Gold - 4x100m medley relay (World -
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M.P.
