Freestyle swimming
Start of the women's 400 m freestyle at the 2008 European Championships
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest. As such the term freestyle is often used as a synonym for the front crawl.
Technique
Competitors in freestyle swimming can use any of the unregulated strokes such as front crawl, dog paddle, or sidestroke. Standalone freestyle events can also be swum using one of the officially regulated strokes (breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke). For the freestyle part of medley competitions, however, one cannot use breaststroke, butterfly, or backstroke. Most competitive swimmers choose the front crawl during freestyle competitions, as this style provides the greatest speed. Freestyle competitions have also been swum completely and partially in other styles, especially at lower ranking competitions as some swimmers find their backstroke quicker than their front crawl. During the Olympic Games, front crawl is swum almost exclusively during freestyle. Some of the only rules are that swimmers cannot touch the bottom or hang on the wall, and false starts are not allowed.
New developments in the sport
Times have consistently dropped over the years due to better training techniques and to new developments in the sport.
In the first four Olympics, competitions were not held in pools, but, rather, in open water (1896- the Mediterranean Sea, 1900- the Seine river, 1904- an artificial lake, 1906- the Mediterranean Sea). The 1904 Olympics freestyle race was the only one ever measured at 100 yards, instead of the usual 100 metres. A 100 metre pool was built for the 1908 Olympics and sat in the center of the main stadium's track and field oval. The 1912 Olympics, held in the Stockholm harbour, marked the beginning of electronic timing.
Male swimmers wore full body suits up until the 1940s, which caused more drag in the water than their modern swimwear counterparts. Also, over the years, some design considerations have reduced swimming resistance making the pool faster - namely proper pool depth, elimination of currents, increased lane width, energy-absorbing racing lane lines and gutters, and the use of other innovative hydraulic, acoustic and illumination designs.
The 1924 Olympics were the first to use the standard 50 metre pool with marked lanes. In the freestyle, swimmers originally dove from the pool walls, but diving blocks were eventually incorporated at the 1936 Olympics. The tumble turn ("flip-turn") was developed by the 1950s. The Trudgen, introduced in England in the 1880s, has been completely supplanted by the front crawl, also known as the Australian crawl.
Rules and regulation
Freestyle means any style for individual distances and any style but breaststroke, butterfly or backstroke for medley competitions. The wall has to be touched at every turn and upon completion. Some part of the swimmer must be above water at any time, except for the first 15 metres after the start and every turn. This rule was introduced (see History of swimming) to prevent swimmers from using the faster underwater swimming to their advantage, or even swimming entire laps underwater. The exact FINA rules are:
- Freestyle means that in an event so designated the swimmer may swim any style, except that in individual medley or medley relay events, freestyle means any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
- Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall upon completion of each length and at the finish.
- Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.
Competitions
Men's 100 m freestyle at the 2006 Euros
There are eight common competitions swum in freestyle swimming, both over either a long course (50 m pool) or a short course (25 m pool). The United States also employs short course yards (25 yard pool). Of course, other distances are also swum on occasion.
- 50 m freestyle
- 100 m freestyle
- 200 m freestyle
- 400 m freestyle (500 yards for short course yards)
- 800 m freestyle (1000 yards for short course yards)
- 1500 m freestyle (1650 yards for short course yards)
- 4×100 m freestyle relay
- 4×200 m freestyle relay
Young swimmers (typically 8 years old and younger) may swim a 25 yard or 25 metre freestyle event. These shorter events are usually for swimmers who are slower than similarly aged swimmers or may have difficulty swimming longer distances.
Freestyle is also part of the medley over the following distances:
- 100 m individual medley (short 25 m pool only)
- 200 m individual medley
- 400 m individual medley
- 4×100 m medley relay
In the long distance races of 800 m and 1500 m, meets hosted by FINA (including the Olympics) only have the 800 m distance for women and the 1500 m distance for men. However, FINA does keep records in the 1500 metre distance for women and the 800 metre distance for men, and many meets in the United States have both distances for both genders.[1]
See also
- List of world records in swimming
Olympic or long course world champions in freestyle
Men
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Olympic Champions in Men's 50 m Freestyle |
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1904: (50 yards) Zoltán Halmay | 1988: Matt Biondi | 1992: Alexander Popov | 1996: Alexander Popov | 2000: Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall, Jr. | 2004: Gary Hall, Jr. | 2008: César Cielo Filho
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Olympic Champions in Men's 100 m Freestyle |
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1896: Alfréd Hajós | 1904: (100 yards) Zoltán Halmay | 1906: Charles Daniels | 1908: Charles Daniels | 1912: Duke Kahanamoku | 1920: Duke Kahanamoku | 1924: Johnny Weissmuller | 1928: Johnny Weissmuller | 1932: Yasuji Miyazaki | 1936: Ferenc Csík | 1948: Walter Ris | 1952: Clarke Scholes | 1956: Jon Henricks | 1960: John Devitt | 1964: Don Schollander | 1968: Michael Wenden | 1972: Mark Spitz | 1976: Jim Montgomery | 1980: Jörg Woithe | 1984: Rowdy Gaines | 1988: Matt Biondi | 1992: Alexander Popov | 1996: Alexander Popov | 2000: Pieter van den Hoogenband | 2004: Pieter van den Hoogenband | 2008: Alain Bernard
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Olympic Champions in Men's 200 m Freestyle |
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1900: Frederick Lane | 1904: (220 yards) Charles Daniels | 1968: Michael Wenden | 1972: Mark Spitz | 1976: Bruce Furniss | 1980: Sergey Kopliakov | 1984: Michael Gross | 1988: Duncan Armstrong | 1992: Yevgeny Sadovyi | 1996: Danyon Loader | 2000: Pieter van den Hoogenband | 2004: Ian Thorpe | 2008: Michael Phelps
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Olympic Champions in Men's 400 m Freestyle |
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1904: (440 yards) Charles Daniels | 1906: Otto Scheff | 1908: Henry Taylor | 1912: George Hodgson | 1920: Norman Ross | 1924: Johnny Weissmuller | 1928: Alberto Zorrilla | 1932: Buster Crabbe | 1936: Jack Medica | 1948: William Smith | 1952: Jean Boiteux | 1956: Murray Rose | 1960: Murray Rose | 1964: Don Schollander | 1968: Mike Burton | 1972: Brad Cooper | 1976: Brian Goodell | 1980: Vladimir Salnikov | 1984: George DiCarlo | 1988: Uwe Daßler | 1992: Yevgeny Sadovyi | 1996: Danyon Loader | 2000: Ian Thorpe | 2004: Ian Thorpe | 2008: Park Tae-Hwan
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Olympic Champions in Men's 1500 m Freestyle |
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1904: (1 mile) Emil Rausch | 1906+1908: Henry Taylor | 1912: George Hodgson | 1920: Norman Ross | 1924: Boy Charlton | 1928: Arne Borg | 1932: Kusuo Kitamura | 1936: Noboru Terada | 1948: James McLane | 1952: Ford Konno | 1956: Murray Rose | 1960: John Konrads | 1964: Bob Windle | 1968: Mike Burton | 1972: Mike Burton | 1976: Brian Goodell | 1980: Vladimir Salnikov | 1984: Michael O'Brien | 1988: Vladimir Salnikov | 1992: Kieren Perkins | 1996: Kieren Perkins | 2000: Grant Hackett | 2004: Grant Hackett | 2008: Oussama Mellouli
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World Long Course Champions in Men's 50 m Freestyle |
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1986: Tom Jager (USA) • 1991: Tom Jager (USA) • 1994: Alexander Popov (RUS) • 1998: Bill Pilczuk (USA) • 2001: Anthony Ervin (USA) • 2003: Alexander Popov (RUS) • 2005: Roland Mark Schoeman (RSA) • 2007: Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner (USA) • 2009: César Cielo Filho (BRA)
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World Long Course Champions in Men's 100 m Freestyle |
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1973: Jim Montgomery (USA) • 1975: Andy Coan (USA) • 1978: David McCagg (USA) • 1982: Jörg Woithe (GDR) • 1986: Matt Biondi (USA) • 1991: Matt Biondi (USA) • 1994: Alexander Popov (RUS) • 1998: Alexander Popov (RUS) • 2001: Anthony Ervin (USA) • 2003: Alexander Popov (RUS) • 2005: Filippo Magnini (ITA) • 2007: Filippo Magnini (ITA) / Brent Hayden (CAN) • 2009: César Cielo Filho (BRA)
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World Long Course Champions in Men's 200 m Freestyle |
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1973: Jim Montgomery (USA) • 1975: Timothy Shaw (USA) • 1978: William Forrester (USA) • 1982: Michael Gross (FRG) • 1986: Michael Gross (FRG) • 1991: Giorgio Lamberti (ITA) • 1994: Antti Kasvio (FIN) • 1998: Michael Klim (AUS) • 2001: Ian Thorpe (AUS) • 2003: Ian Thorpe (AUS) • 2005: Michael Phelps (USA) • 2007: Michael Phelps (USA) • 2009: Paul Biedermann (GER)
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World Long Course Champions in Men's 400 m Freestyle |
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1973: Rick DeMont (USA) · 1975: Timothy Shaw (USA) · 1978: Vladimir Salnikov (RUS) · 1982: Vladimir Salnikov (RUS) · 1986: Rainer Henkel (FRG) · 1991: Jörg Hoffmann (GER) · 1994: Kieren Perkins (AUS) · 1998: Ian Thorpe (AUS) · 2001: Ian Thorpe (AUS) · 2003: Ian Thorpe (AUS) · 2005: Grant Hackett (AUS) · 2007: Park Tae-Hwan (KOR) · 2009: Paul Biedermann (GER)
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World Long Course Champions in Men's 1500 m Freestyle |
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1973: Stephen Holland (AUS) · 1975: Timothy Shaw (USA) · 1978: Vladimir Salnikov (RUS) · 1982: Vladimir Salnikov (RUS) · 1986: Rainer Henkel (FRG) · 1991: Jörg Hoffmann (GER) · 1994: Kieren Perkins (AUS) · 1998: Grant Hackett (AUS) · 2001: Grant Hackett (AUS) · 2003: Grant Hackett (AUS) · 2005: Grant Hackett (AUS) · 2007: Mateusz Sawrymowicz (POL) · 2009: Oussama Mellouli (TUN)
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Women
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Olympic Champions in Women's 50 m Freestyle |
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1988: Kristin Otto | 1992: Yang Wenyi | 1996: Amy Van Dyken | 2000: Inge de Bruijn | 2004: Inge de Bruijn | 2008: Britta Steffen
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Olympic Champions in Women's 100 m Freestyle |
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1912: Fanny Durack · 1920: Ethelda Bleibtrey · 1924: Ethel Lackie · 1928: Albina Osipowich · 1932: Helene Madison · 1936: Rie Mastenbroek · 1948: Greta Andersen · 1952: Katalin Szőke · 1956: Dawn Fraser · 1960: Dawn Fraser · 1964: Dawn Fraser · 1968: Jan Henne · 1972: Sandra Neilson · 1976: Kornelia Ender · 1980: Barbara Krause · 1984: Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer · 1988: Kristin Otto · 1992: Zhuang Yong · 1996: Le Jingyi · 2000: Inge de Bruijn · 2004: Jodie Henry · 2008: Britta Steffen
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Olympic Champions in Women's 200 m Freestyle |
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1968: Debbie Meyer | 1972: Shane Gould | 1976: Kornelia Ender | 1980: Barbara Krause | 1984: Mary Wayte | 1988: Heike Friedrich | 1992: Nicole Haislett | 1996: Claudia Poll | 2000: Susie O'Neill | 2004: Camelia Potec | 2008: Federica Pellegrini
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Olympic Champions in Women's 400 m Freestyle |
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1920: (300 m) Ethelda Bleibtrey · 1924: Martha Norelius · 1928: Martha Norelius · 1932: Helene Madison · 1936: Rie Mastenbroek · 1948: Ann Curtis · 1952: Valéria Gyenge · 1956: Lorraine Crapp · 1960: Christina von Saltza · 1964: Virginia Duenkel · 1968: Debbie Meyer · 1972: Shane Gould · 1976: Petra Thümer · 1980: Ines Diers · 1984: Tiffany Cohen · 1988: Janet Evans · 1992: Dagmar Hase · 1996: Michelle Smith · 2000: Brooke Bennett · 2004: Laure Manaudou · 2008: Rebecca Adlington
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Olympic Champions in Women's 800 m Freestyle |
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1968: Debbie Meyer · 1972: Keena Rothhammer · 1976: Petra Thümer · 1980: Michelle Ford · 1984: Tiffany Cohen · 1988: Janet Evans · 1992: Janet Evans · 1996: Brooke Bennett · 2000: Brooke Bennett · 2004: Ai Shibata · 2008: Rebecca Adlington
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World Long Course Champions in Women's 50 m Freestyle |
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1986: Tamara Costache (ROM) • 1991: Yong Zhouang (CHN) • 1994: Le Jingyi (CHN) • 1998: Amy Van Dyken (USA) • 2001: Inge de Bruijn (NED) • 2003: Inge de Bruijn (NED)nbsp; • 2005: Libby Lenton (AUS) • 2007: Libby Lenton (AUS) • 2009: Britta Steffen (GER)
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World Long Course Champions in Women's 100 m Freestyle |
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1973: Kornelia Ender (GDR) • 1975: Kornelia Ender (GDR) • 1978: Barbara Krause (GDR) • 1982: Birgit Meineke (GDR) • 1986: Kristin Otto (GDR) • 1991: Nicole Haislett (USA) • 1994: Le Jingyi (CHN) • 1998: Jenny Thompson (USA) • 2001: Inge de Bruijn (NED) • 2003: Hanna-Maria Seppälä (FIN) • 2005: Jodie Henry (AUS) • 2007: Libby Lenton (AUS) • 2009: Britta Steffen (GER)
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World Long Course Champions in Women's 200 m Freestyle |
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1973: Keena Rothhammer (USA) • 1975: Shirley Babashoff (USA) • 1978: Cynthia Woodhead (USA) • 1982: Annemarie Verstappen (NED) • 1986: Heike Friedrich (GDR) • 1991: Hayley Lewis (AUS) • 1994: Franziska Van Almsick (GER) • 1998: Claudia Poll (CRC) • 2001: Giaan Rooney (AUS) • 2003: Alena Popchanka (BLR) • 2005: Solenne Figuès (FRA) • 2007: Laure Manaudou (FRA) • 2009: Federica Pellegrini (ITA)
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World Long Course Champions in Women's 400 m Freestyle |
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1973: Heather Greenwood (USA) • 1975: Shirley Babashoff (USA) • 1978: Tracey Wickham (AUS) • 1982: Carmela Schmidt (USA) • 1986: Heike Friedrich (GDR) • 1991: Janet Evans (USA) • 1994: Aihua Yang (CHN) • 1998: Chen Yan (CHN) • 2001: Yana Klochkova (BLR) • 2003: Hannah Stockbauer (GER) • 2005: Laure Manaudou (FRA) • 2007: Laure Manaudou (FRA) • 2009: Federica Pellegrini (ITA)
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World Long Course Champions in Women's 800 m Freestyle |
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1973: Novella Calligaris (ITA) • 1975: Jennifer Turrall (AUS) • 1978: Tracey Wickham (AUS) • 1982: Kim Linehan (USA) • 1986: Astrid Strauss (GDR) • 1991: Janet Evans (USA) • 1994: Janet Evans (USA) • 1998: Brooke Bennett (USA) • 2001: Hannah Stockbauer (GER) • 2003: Hannah Stockbauer (GER) • 2005: Kate Ziegler (USA) • 2007: Kate Ziegler (USA) • 2009: Lotte Friis (DEN)
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Endnotes
Sources
- Hines, Emmett W. (1998). Fitness Swimming. Human Kinetics Publishers. ISBN 0-88011-656-0.
- Laughlin, Terry (2001). Swimming Made Easy: The Total Immersion Way for Any Swimmer to Achieve Fluency, Ease, and Speed in Any Stroke. Total Immersion Inc. ISBN 1-931009-01-5.
- Colwin, Cecil (2002). Breakthrough Swimming. Human Kinetics Publishers. ISBN 0-7360-3777-2.
- The Macquarie Dictionary Online. Macquarie Dictionary Publishers Pty Ltd. 2007.
External links
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Styles of swimming |
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| Competitive: |
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| Competitive variations: |
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| Other: |
Dog paddle • Sidestroke • Treading water • List of swimming styles
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