The History of Swimming
Historicans believe the very start of swimming to have been around 2000bc in Ancient Egypt, where it may have been used as a way of transport or simply for leisure, though the first mention of competitve swimming is dated back to 36bc, in Japan. England, in 1837, was the first country which developed swimming as a sport, and 59 years later, in 1896, swimming entered the Olympics for the first time, though only for men. It took another 16 years for the women to also be able to swim in the olympics.
The first few swimming olympics were held in open water; in 1908, London, the swimming olympics were first held in a pool.
The first few swimming olympics were held in open water; in 1908, London, the swimming olympics were first held in a pool.
Top 10 Swimmers of All Time
Michael Phelps
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Michael Phelps, Butterfly
Michael Fred Phelps, The Baltimore Bullet, was the most successful Olympian of all times, with 22 Olympic medals, of which 18 are golds. He was named as World Swimmer of the Year for 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and Most Decorated Olympian. Michael Phelps is called a Legend in the swimmers world.
Mark Spitz
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Mark Spitz, Butterfly
Mark Spitz, also known as Mark The Shark, won seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games. Between 1968 and 1972, he won nine Olympic golds and one silver and bronze,
five Pan American golds, 31 US Amateur Athletic Union titles and eight US National Collegiate Athletic Association titles. He also set 33 world records during those years. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.
five Pan American golds, 31 US Amateur Athletic Union titles and eight US National Collegiate Athletic Association titles. He also set 33 world records during those years. He was named World Swimmer of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1972.
Ian Thorpe
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Ian Thorpe, Freestyle
Ian James Thorpe, named the Thorpedo, is the most successful Australian swimmer, with eight Olympic medals, five of them gold.
He was also the first person to be named Swimming Wolrd Swimmer of the Year four times.
He was also the first person to be named Swimming Wolrd Swimmer of the Year four times.
Matthew Biondi
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Matthew (Matt) Nicholas Biondi, managed to get 11 Olympic medals over three Olympic games, including 8 gold. He was awarded by the Swimming World Magazine as the Male Swimmer
of the Year twice.
of the Year twice.
Johnny Weissmuller
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Johann Peter Weißmüller was one of the world’s best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven world records
Shane Gould
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Shane Gould was an australian swimmer who surprisingly retired from swimming at the age of 16. In her only Olympic appearance, 1972, Munich, she won 5 Olympic medals, three of them gold, at only 15 years old.
Kristin Otto
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Kristin Otto was the first woman to win six Olympic gold medals at a single Olympic games (1998, Seoul). She was also awarded the title Female World Swimmer of the Year thrice.
Krisztina Egerszegi
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Krisztina Egerszegi was nicknamed "The Backstroke Queen", due to her strong performances in backstroke. She held her 200m backstroke record for a long time, and was also one of the three individuals (Dawn Fraser, Michael Phelps) to have won the same event over three olympic games.
Dawn Fraser
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Dawn Lorraine Fraser was the first woman to finish under one minute in 100m Freestyle. She won multiple awards, including "Order of the British Empire" in 1967.
Jenny Thompson
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Jennifer Elzibath Thopmson was able to win 12 Olympic medals, 8 of which are gold, over four olympic games. In 1999, she was awarded the Swimming World Swimmer of the Year title.