General Swimming
The sport, its history and the Olympic story.
Choose your favorite stroke.
Choose a subject, discover its story, and test your understanding. Athletes of every age can share the challenge, with guided explanations and deeper exploration.
Explore now: Gretchen Walsh — study the historic 100 Fly swim across seven levels. USA Swimming Rules — vocabulary, stroke rules and Open Water; Swimming Vocabulary now has ten levels. Olympic History — 30 year challenges. Shin Ohashi — study the 200m breaststroke final in World Record Holders and Asian Games. Other collections show future learning activities.
Olympic Swimming Through the Years
Athens 1896 to Paris 2024 · Champions, historic races and lessons for swimmers.
Start anywhere. Follow your favorite stroke.
Everyone can enter Level 1 in any collection. Higher learning levels keep their own progress requirements.
Enter Level 1 →
USA Rules
Learn the rules, then practice decisions.
Vocabulary
Learn swimming words, from the basics onward.
Find your stroke.
FreestyleHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how freestyle developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
BackstrokeHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how backstroke developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
BreaststrokeHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how breaststroke developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
ButterflyHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how butterfly developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
Individual MedleyHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how individual medley developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
Relay FreestyleHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how relay freestyle developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
Relay MedleyHistory · Record holders · Study the swim
Level 1 · History & Evolution
Explore Level 1 →Learn how relay medley developed. Everyone can start here.
Next · Current World Record Holders
Explore records →Choose the event, men’s or women’s records, and 25m or 50m pool.
Swim Analysis Challenges
Learn the rules and observe a great swim.
Every answer should teach something.
Each challenge is designed to explain the answer, show the source and offer another example. Historic records will be labelled by date; current records will show a verification date. Rules questions will name the applicable rulebook edition.
Start with the same foundations at every age. Build accuracy, improve your personal best, and explore deeper when you are ready.