The Swimming Revolution
Did you know swimming is one of the best ways to exercise, it is also an Olympic sport. What you may not know thought is that swimming was not always a sport for everyone. The Egyptians were the first people that swam but swimming was not a official sport until competitive swimming began at the Great Britain in 1837. The first stroke ever swam at the Olympic games was freestyle.
Lots of people know about freestyle but most people do not know about backstroke. Backstroke was made popular by an american named Harry Hebner who was an Olympic swimmer and, at the time he held all the backstroke world records. Finally backstroke was first held at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France and that was the end of the backstroke revolution for men.
Sadly women did not participate in the Olympics until 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden. Some famous Olympic backstrokers are Natalie Coughlin, Lilliana Watson, Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky, and Maya Dirado. All these woman are very inspirational to girls around the world. Having accomplished so much, they lead by example, letting girls know that swimming is not just a male sport and anyone can be a great athlete if they try as hard as they can and they don’t give up.
My favorite stroke is backstroke because I feel I have the most control. When you are swimming backstroke correctly you know because you can feel that you are not losing speed and you body is just gliding through the water. I look up to female swimmers, they are what inspire me to try my best.
Of all this information the takeaway is swimming is an amazing sport, an Olympic sport, it was not always like it is now, but it has changed for the better by including women and adding more strokes. Swimming helps unify the world. 
Wow! Good points! I wonder what swimming as a sport will look like 30 years from now?
ReplyDeleteI love how passionate you are to swimming! It's a great sport! I love how you say that swimming isn't a male sport only. It's so sad to think back then how they secluded women for everything. I am just glad women have so much more opportunities! I have one question to you. Is your best time in backstroke?
ReplyDeleteGreat work!
-Lion
Dear Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteyour blog post was very informative on the history of swimming. I like how you gave your point of view, as well as the some backstory on the Olympic sport. I can tell you you are very enthusiastic about the sport. Have you ever thought about participating in any other aquatic athletics?
-aquaSongbird
Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteI can tell you are very passionate about swimming! I never knew there were so many different strokes and ways to swim! Wasn't the breast stroke the first stroke in swimming history though? As I implied above, I am not very educated in swimming, so I may be wrong, just wondering!
Swim on,
-Flexi
Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteThis is very informative about swimming. I like how you focused in on backstroke which is also my favorite stroke, though I'm not a competitive swimmer. It is cool that now women can participate in the olympics in swimming also. Do you ever plan on going to the olympics?
-Echoer
Dear Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteThis a very good entry! I love how you talk about how it is diverse and inclusive, and how many women are very good swimmers. As a competitive swimmer, it was really cool to gain your insight on different strokes and techniques. Do you have a favorite race?
-Davitts
Hi Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting, I love how you told us that swimming is a sport for all genders! Do you enjoy swimming?
-MagicalFluffySparkleyUnicorn
Hi Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting, I love how you told us that swimming is a sport for all genders! Do you enjoy swimming?
-MagicalFluffySparkleyUnicorn
Hi Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteis there a swimmer that you particularly like?
-bumpsetspike
Hey Horse Fan,
ReplyDeleteThis was a really cool blog post! I think that swimming is really fun, and even though I don't swim competitively I still like to do it a lot. What do you think your favorite part of swimming is?
~Dogdoo42
Dear Dogdoo42,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, My favorite part of swimming is competing.
-Horse Fan