Styles of swimming

As a sports discipline, sports swimming is a variety of types of competitions that can be held both in the pool (25 m / 50 m) and in open water. The main condition is to overcome a certain distance (5/10/25 km in open water and 50-1500 m in the pool) in a designated way. The task is to swim to the finish line first in a short period of time. The main established styles of sports swimming are the following:

Let's take a closer look at which existing types of sports swimming are the most popular, which style of swimming is faster and other features of sports swimming styles.

Breaststroke

  • Technique: performing symmetrical thrusting movements with legs and semicircular hands in the same plane. Inhalation is carried out by mouth by lifting the head and shoulders above the water. Exhalation occurs in water.
  • Features: One of the most ancient, slow and energy efficient ways of swimming.
  • Pros: approx. are involved in this process. 70% of muscles, less energy and strength is spent than when swimming in other styles.
  • Cons: low speed, it's hard to master the technique the first time.


Butterfly

  • Technique: performing symmetrical thrusting movements with legs and semicircular hands in the same plane. Inhalation is carried out by mouth by lifting the head and shoulders above the water. Exhalation occurs in water.
  • Features: One of the most ancient, slow and energy efficient ways of swimming.
  • Pros: approx. are involved in this process. 70% of muscles, less energy and strength is spent than when swimming in other styles.
  • Cons: low speed, it's hard to master the technique the first time.

Crawl-on-your-back

  • Technique: has no fundamental difference from the crawl on the chest, apart from the fact that it is performed on a perfectly straightened back.
  • Features: this method is preferable for strengthening the back muscles.
  • Pros: easy to master the technique, helps to relieve tension in the muscles.
  • Cons: before mastering the crawl on the back, it is advisable to study the technique of swimming with a crawl on the chest.


Crawl-on-the-chest

  • Technique: simultaneous execution of movements with straight legs (swings) and hands alternately making a stroke and stroke under water to the hip. Inhalation is carried out by turning towards the head, and exhalation (nose and mouth) – into the water.
  • Features: This style is the fastest and highly coordinated.
  • Pros: the ability to develop maximum swimming speed, easy to master.
  • Cons: requires precise coordination of the movement of the arms and legs.