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Swimming, as a leisure activity has become extremely popular the world over. Swimming is an excellent aerobic exercise that is safer on tendons and joints than most other activities. Providing aerobic and resistance benefits, swimming is also an ideal medium for cardiovascular workouts. Competitive swimming is also a keenly participated sport.
History of Swimming
Ancient Babylonian and Assyrian wall paintings are indicative that swimming skills were present among humans nearly 6, 000 years ago. A study of ancient civilizations shows that the Egyptians, Persians, Romans and Greeks swam. The restorative power of water has always been recognized by ancient cultures in Rome and Greece. Julius Caesar was noted for his swimming skills. Mosaics from Mid-Eastern civilizations depict men swimming using a dog stroke. Swimming was not included in the ancient Olympic games. Competitive swimming can be traced back to English clubs in the 1830s. The breaststroke remained a popular stroke for leisure swimming. The first person to swim the English Channel in 1875 was Captain Matthew Webb. J. Arthur.
Swimming Equipment
Various swimming equipment is used so as to enable learners overcome their initial fears and keep them safe. Water wings or inflatable pads are used while teaching children to swim. Most of the major competitive swimming events take place in 50 m pools. Such pools have 8 lanes that extend the full length of the pool. They are demarcated by floating plastic lane markers that also help in reducing turbulence. Electronic timing devices are used to record each swimmer’s time. Swimming gear consists of lycra swimsuits and swim cap and goggles. The swimsuit must be made of a material that allows for free range of movement. Swim caps not only protect the hair but also reduce the resistance when swimming through the water. Goggles protect the eyes from irritants found in pool water and also aid the swimmer to see better under water.
Women's Swimming
Women were allowed to participate in the 1912 Olympic games. The Womens swimming Association of New York provided women the opportunity to train for national and international swimming competitions. Women’s swimming in the NCAA swimming events began in 1981. The first National Collegiate Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship was hosted by the University of Florida in March 1982. Texas and Stanford have been dominating the women’s swimming events winning 15 of the 16 championships
between 1983 and 1998.
Whether you swim at the competitive level or for leisure, there is little doubt about the exhilarating feeling that swimming provides. Ease the pressures of modern day stresses and seek a panacea for hypertension and arthritis by taking to swimming.
NCAA Swimming
The dream of any college swimming team is to win the NCAA swimming national title. Auburn won the 2003 NCAA swimming championship. Aaron Peirsol won the Swimmer of the year award and Diver of the year was Clayton Moss of Kentucky. The NCAA swimming ratings for the men’s teams for 2003:
- Auburn
- Texas
- Stanford
- California
- Southern California
- Florida
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Virginia
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