Breaststroke

Level 1 · History & Evolution

Open to everyone. Start here without completing another game.

Breaststroke has deep roots in competitive swimming. Butterfly arms once appeared in breaststroke races before butterfly became separate. Later rules changed head position and allowed one dolphin kick during the underwater pullout.

Read the history source →

Watch · Swimming overview

World Aquatics includes this introduction in its swimming history feature. Use it as an overview, then follow the stroke-specific history above.

World Aquatics · video source · Open video if the player is unavailable

Look closer

What do you notice about the start, body position, arm action, kick and turn? Compare an older race with today’s technique when historic footage is available.

Study a featured swim

Shin Ohashi · Asian Games · Men’s 200m Breaststroke · 2:04.83