If you will agree with me, swimming is one sport many people engage in but do not see it as they have taken part in a sporting activity or even see swimming itself as a sport and I fall in that category, that is because majority swim for fun, either by the pool at the back yard, river close by or some other water body. I am not the best of swimmers but I do pretty well in the sport but known of it was for competitive purpose it was either having fun or just getting a swim because of the sunny weather.
Swimming has been a major sport in the summer Olympics and the fight for gold has contested for in every summer games held. only a few major styles have been adopted in the competition which include, Butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke, medley and freestyle for various swim races. it comprises of both male and female categories, but not until 1912 before women swimming was allowed in the Olympics which saw Australian Fanny Durack winning the first female 100m freestyle swimming.
In the 2008 summer games, advance technology was introduced, a swimsuit that increased buoyancy and reduces the water resistance which lead to over 25 world record being broken that year but FINA soon banned the swimsuit after another round of records were been shattered in the 2009 world championship.
Beijing 2008
The 2008 Olympics will continue to be a good memory to all sport lovers, the tournament right from the opening ceremony stole the heart of many. The swimming contest kick started on the ninth of August and lasted till the 17th at the Beijing National Aquatics. It also saw the newly introduced 10km open water swimming held in the competition making it 34 events in total. The united states topped the leadership board with 31 medals wining 12 golds, 9 silver and 10 bronze to keep them at top spot in all time most medal winners. Their closest rival is the Australians who are still miles away from catching the United States.
The youngest participant was 12-year-old Cameroonian Antoinette Joyce, she participated in the women’s 50 meters freestyle, the oldest swimmer was USA Dara Torres (41-years). But all attention was on Michael Phelps who won a total of 8 medals and breaking series of records in the process.
Michael Phelps
He is unarguably the most decorated and successful swimmer of all time. The American born who has been dominating the Olympic state since Athens 2004 where he won six gold and two bronze at also making a tie with the record set by Mark Spitz he came back even more stronger in 2008 to surpass every records making him the greatest Olympiad of all time and also becoming the first ever Olympic swimmer to have won eight gold medals in an Olympic game. He can swim the butter fly and freestyle but he is the master of the individual medley.
Aside his success in the summer games, Phelps have also had a tremendous success in world championships, a total of 39 medals with 29 of them coming from individual performance while the other were from relays more than any swimmer in history and during his career he has broken about 67 world records that made him find his name even in the Guinness book of records. I was opportune to watch him in the 2016 games medley relay, Great Britain was ahead of them in the race but when he dived in to give the united states the lead and the last swimmer went on to finish up the race for the USA.
Katie Ledecky
There is no doubt that Americans continue to dominate the stage when it comes to swimming with the likes of Katie who continue to pull the strings at every competition there participate in. she has a record of not lost in an individual event in her career and also the most decorated female swimmer with numerous world record titles to her name. she was born in the late 1997 and started swimming as at age six. She came into limelight at the 2102 London Olympics breaking a world record to win the 800m freestyle gold medal and from then she continued to dominate the stage, she went on to win five medals in Rio de janeiro.
Healthy benefits of swimming
Swimming comes with great benefits to the human body which makes it a very interesting sport to engage in.
Ever thought of a sport with full body workout? Swimming gives you all that as you get to stretch all you muscle while you swim, applying the various types of swimming technique such as a simple front crawl or breaststroke or a more complex style like the butterfly or sidestroke. The use of the arms and legs during the sport makes it a total workout sport, no static part of the body in swimming.
Research has it 30 minutes in the pool is same thing as working 45 minutes on land, sounds really cool and it contributes to one’s health when balanced with good diet.
The sport has been a source of relaxation for many, after a stressful day or a sunny day it can help reduce depression and aid proper blood flow as well as reduce stress and anxiety.
It helps withstands the body against diseases, constant involvement in the sport can help increase body energy level through increased metabolic rate.
So what are you waiting for, get into the pool
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