Whether you swim for fun or competitively, whether you've been swimming for 1 year or 15, have you ever thought about the history of your sport? Find out how swimming went from prehistoric rivers to Olympic podiums.
Swimming as a hobby
The prehistoric era
Long before it became a sport, swimming was a necessity for prehistoric man. He had to cross rivers and lakes to survive. Certain cave paintings found in Egypt, dating back some 6,000 years, bear witness to a form of swimming practised at that time. The first written records of swimming date back to 2500 BC, notably in Greece, Egypt, Rome and Assyria. Greek mythology also evokes numerous aquatic feats.
Grotte des nageurs – Egypte
The ancient world
In Rome, mosaics depict swimming scenes, with swimmers practicing a form of breaststroke. However, swimming did not yet have the sporting structure we know today. It often appeared in tales and legends. It was also at this time that thermal baths, built as early as the 1st century BC, became popular.
The Middle Ages and the Renaissance
During this period, swimming was seen more as a leisure than a sporting activity. Peasants went to the rivers after their day's work to relax. Learning to swim began to emerge, particularly for knights, who had to be able to cross rivers in armor. In the 16th century, the first book devoted to swimming was published, marking the beginning of a more in-depth reflection on the practice.
Swimming as a sport
18th and 19th centuries: swimming in the army and at school
With the rise of education and military training, swimming acquired a utilitarian function. It was taught to soldiers and schoolchildren for strategic, therapeutic, hygienic and educational reasons. Swimming techniques were diversified: dog swimming, frog swimming, backstroke and planking. Military training follows three stages: ground exercises (gymnastic movements), simulation of movements in the air, known as “swimming in the air”, then do it in water. Schools adopt a similar approach.
Development of modern swimming
The first major turning point in sports swimming came in Anglo-Saxon countries. In 1837, England organized the first official competition under the National Swimming Association, a breaststroke event. Thanks to many indoor and heated swimming pools, particularly in London, swimming is developing rapidly.
In 1846, Australia organized its first swimming championship in Sydney. In 1858, an international 100-yard race was organized in the province of Melbourne. England and Australia thus became the pioneering nations of modern swimming.
Swimming in today's era
Swimming in France
The development of swimming in France began in Le Havre, where the first specialized club was founded. In 1898, the newspaper "Le Vélo" organizes an open-water competition in the Seine. One year later, the first French championship is set up with three contests:
- 100 m freestyle pool
- 500 m open water in the Seine river
- 400 m out at sea in Saint-Valéry-en-Caux
In 1920, the French Swimming Federation (FFN) is founded, officially structuring the discipline at national level. Today, OpenSwim is the official app of the FFN.
Swimming and the Olympics
The discipline has been present since the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, swimming is one of the oldest Olympic sports. The first events took place at sea and were reserved for men: 100 m, 500 m and 1200 m. It wasn't until the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 that women competed.
The Olympic program is gradually expanding:
- 1904 : Introduction of backstroke
- 1956 : Introduction of butterfly
- 2020 : first mixed relays at the Tokyo Olympics
Key facts
- The United States is the most successful nation with 265 Olympic gold medals after Paris 2024, followed by Australia with 76 titles.
- Michael Phelps holds the all-time record with 23 gold medals (13 individual) and 28 medals in total, making him the most decorated athlete of all time.
- Katie Ledecky is the most successful swimmer with 9 Olympic titles (8 individual) and 14 medals in all.
- With 35 events on the program for the Paris 2024 Olympics, swimming is the second most important sport at the Games.
Key dates in modern swimming
- July 19, 1908: Creation of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in London, which sets the rules and structures the competitions. Today, the organization is called World Aquatics and gather 194 federations.
- 1973: First World Championships in Belgrade (swimming, diving and water polo).
- 1984: Introduction of synchronized swimming at the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
- 2013: Addition of mixed relays in international competition.