Swimming is a physical activity based on the human ability to get around in water (swim). There are reports and indications of the practice of swimming for thousands of years with Lifeguard recertification near me.
As a sport, swimming has appeared in competitions since the mid-19th century. It has also been present since the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896, having evolved over time.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in the world. In addition to physical conditioning, swimming brings several health benefits, with fans of all ages.
History of Swimming
Swimming has been practiced since many years before Christ, this is revealed by cave paintings and reports that date back to an ancient relationship between humans and the activity.
The ability to swim enabled advances in issues related to human survival and development. It made it possible to overcome obstacles (rivers and lakes), acquire food (fishing) or even avoid drowning (floods or falls into rivers).
In ancient Greece, swimming assumed its relationship with the health and physical conditioning of warriors and athletes. In the Roman Empire, swimming was part of the education system and the first swimming pools were built.
During the Middle Ages, activities related to the body were criticized by the Church and swimming lost strength. With the Renaissance and the anthropocentric turn, swimming is practiced again.
In 1538, the German author Nicholas Waman writes the first book on the subject, entitled The Swimmer or the Art of Swimming, a festive dialogue and fun to read.
The first organized swimming competitions took place in London in 1837. In 1874, the first swimming rulebook was written.
In 1896, in the first Olympic Games of the modern era, in Athens, swimming is one of the nine disciplines disputed. The first Olympic swimming champion was the Hungarian Alfred Hajes.
Since then, swimming has evolved, swimming styles have emerged:
- Crawl – alternating strokes and vertical movement, also alternating;
- Back – Alternating arm and leg movements as in the front crawl , but with the back to the bottom of the pool;
- Chest – in the prone position, the athlete projects the body out of the pool and performs a movement of arms and legs together,
- Butterfly (dolphin) – Wavelike movement of the legs like breaststroke, but with the movement of simultaneous arms, projected out of the pool.
New sports based on swimming have also emerged:
- Water polo;
- Synchronized swimming;
- Diving;
- Diving.
The health benefits of swimming
Swimming is understood by health experts as one of the most complete and beneficial activities for health.
In addition to moving various muscles of the torso, upper and lower limbs. Swimming has a low level of impact, compared to other activities, considerably reducing the risk of injury.
Because of its relationship with water, it is very suitable for people with problems related to the cardiorespiratory system. It increases lung capacity, regulates the heart rate and blood pressure of its practitioners.
Also, it is recommended for people who want to lose weight. The activity has a high energy expenditure, reaching more than 700 calories per hour of swimming.
Some studies also point to the relationship between swimming and the reduction of anxiety and stress.
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