Photos Of Swimmers

Individual medley or IM: each swimmer must complete one quarter of the full distance in each of the three competition styles (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke) and one part in free style. Open turns are required in the switch from one style to another, but flip turns or bucket turns can be made during a backstroke and freestyle flip turn where the next stroke is the same as the previous one. Suicide turns are also allowable during the transition from backstroke to breaststroke. Each part must be completed in its style before moving on to the next style. The full distance is typically 100, 200, or 400 meters or yards. There is also a medley relay in which four swimmers each swim one of the four strokes. The relay is swam in 4x50 or 4x100 formats, and in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle.
The goal of competitive swimming is usually to have the fastest time to complete a given distance. Competitive swimming became popular in the nineteenth century. Swimming is an event at the Summer Olympic Games, where male and female athletes compete in 13 of the recognized events each. Olympic events are held in a 50 meter pool (long course). There are 36 officially recognized individual swimming events – 18 male events and 18 female events, however the International Olympic Committee only recognizes 34 of them – 17 male and 17 female.