where they are going.
It also has a different start from
PHYSICAL EDUCATION the other three competition swimming styles.
The 4 Swimming Techniques/Methods/Styles The backstroke is similar to an upside-down front crawl
or freestyle. Both backstroke and front-crawl are long-
Breaststroke axis strokes. In individual medley, backstroke is the
The Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the second style swum; in the medley relay it is the first style
swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. swum.
It is the most popular recreational style due to the The back crawl is an ancient style of swimming,
swimmer’s head being out of the water a large portion of popularized by Harry Hebner. In the initial position, the
the time, and that it can be swim comfortably at slow swimmer performing backstroke lies flat on the back;
speeds. In most swimming classes, beginners learn either arms stretched with extended fingertips, and legs
the breaststroke or the freestyle first. However, at the extended backwards. In this swimming technique, the
competitive level, swimming breaststroke at speed arms contribute to most of the forward movement.
requires comparable endurance and strength to other
strokes. The arm stroke consists of two main parts: the power
phase (consisting of three separate parts), and the
Some people refer to breaststroke as the “frog” stroke, recovery. The arms alternate so that always one arm is
as the arms and legs move somewhat like a frog underwater while the other arm is recovering. One
swimming in the water. The stroke itself is the slowest of complete arm turn is considered one cycle.
any competitive strokes and is thought to be the oldest
of all swimming strokes. Butterfly Stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the chest,
Freestyle with both arms moving symmetrically, accompanies by
The Freestyle is a category of swimming competition in the butterfly kick. While other styles can be swum
which competitors are subject to few limited restrictions adequately by beginners, the butterfly is a more difficult
on their swimming stroke. stroke that requires good technique as well as strong
Freestyle races are the most common of all swimming muscles. It is the newest swimming style swum in
competitions, with distances beginning with 50 meters competition, first swum only in 1933 and originating out
(50 yards) and reaching 1500 meters (1650 yards), also of the breast stroke.
known as the mile. The term “freestyle stroke” is The peak speed of the butterfly is faster than that of the
sometimes used as a synonym for “front crawl”, as the freestyle stroke due to the synchronous pull/push with
front crawl is the fastest swimming stroke. It is now the both arms and legs, which is done quite fast. Yet since
most common stroke used in freestyle competitions. speed drops significantly during the recovery phase, it is
Freestyle swimming implies the use of legs and arms for overall slightly slower than freestyle, especially over
competitive swimming, except in the case of individual longer distances. Another reason it is slower is because
medley or medley relay events. The front crawl is most of the extremely different physical exertion it puts on the
commonly chosen by swimmers, as this provides the swimmer compared to the freestyle. Its name was taken
greatest speed. During a race, the competitor circles the from the butterfly.
arm forward in alternation, kicking the feet up and down The butterfly technique with the dolphin kick consists of
(flutter kick). synchronous arm movement with a synchronous leg kick.
The 1924 Olympics was the first to use the standard 50- Good technique is crucial to swim this style effectively.
meter pool with marked lanes. In freestyle events, The wave-like body movement is also very significant in
swimmers originally dove from the pool walls, but diving creating propulsion, as this is the key to easy
blocks were eventually incorporated at the 1936 synchronous over-water recovery and breathing. In the
Olympics. The flip turn was developed in the 1950s, initial position, the swimmer lies on the breast, and arms
resulting in faster times. are stretched to the front, and the legs are extended to
the back.
Backstroke
The Backstroke or back crawl is one of the four
swimming styles used in competitive events regulated by
FINA, and only one of these styles swum on the back. This
swimming style has the advantage of easy breathing, but
the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see
