The Art Of Swimming

Written by: Nola Metseagharun

WHAT IS SWIMMING?

According to Wikipedia, Swimming is the movement of the body through water using arms and legs.

Swimming is always among the top fun and enjoyable sport activity around the world.  In lots of countries, swimming classes are a part of the educational curriculum.

HISTORY

Swimming was created during the prehistoric time. It is a belief that swimming has been practiced as early as 2500BC in Egypt. Places like Greece and Rome made swimming a part of martial training, which was a part of the elementary education for males.

Did you know that in the 17^th century, teaching of swimming was made compulsory in schools in Japan? Yes, it was.

In 1830, competitive swimming began in Britain and they mostly used breast strokes. Swimming became a part of the first modern Olympics in Athens, 1896. However, the growth of swimming was affected during the early modern period as it became unpopular because bodies were being exposed while doing the sport.

Did you also know that The World Swimming Association, Federation de Notation(F/NA), was formed in 1908?

WHAT AGE CAN YOU START SWIMMING?

American pediatrics say that swimming classes should start for children who are four or older for their safety. However, they are not against swimming lessons for children less than four years old.

According to studies,

“The perfect age to learn to swim is five or six, even though kids start lessons at ages lower than five years old.”

Some people agree that babies can be taken to the pool immediately after giving birth to them. Do you agree?

WHERE CAN WE SWIM?

Lots of people are looking for places to swim. For beginners, you can start from the shallow pool in your house if you have a pool or join a club where they can teach you how to swim. If you are an intermediate swimmer, you can go to the beach and play in the water, if you are up for it without fear. But I would rather advise you to join a club that can teach you how to swim or buy an inflatable small pool you can learn with.

Many standard swimming pools are built to have areas for kids and beginners and deep areas for adults and experienced swimmers. It is important knowing and sticking to the areas that fit you for your safety.

BENEFITS OF SWIMMING:

Some benefits of swimming are

• It allows the child to develop water safety and survival skills, builds strength and assist with balance and co-ordination.
• Lots of people are scared of water. Overcoming this fear will extremely boost the person’s confidence. Most people who are scared of water can overcome it by swimming. No one can overcome yourself but you. Do not be scared of water.
• Swimming for fitness: swimming makes you more active and helps you stay healthy. It burns the calories, support the body and you exercise without sweating.

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF SWIMMING:

• No running near the pool.
• Put toys away.
• Do not enter the pool without supervision.
• Do not urinate or defecate in the pool.
• Check the water depths before getting in.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR SWIMMING

• Swimming goggles; protect your eye from the chlorinated water.
• Swim caps; keeps the hair dry if you do not want your hair wet.
• Nose clips; to prevent chlorinated water from getting into your nose.
• Ear plugs; to prevent chlorinated water from getting into your ears.

TYPES OF SKILLS TO DEVELOP IN SWIMMING

There are many skills in swimming, but I will mention just a few of them.

• Breast stroke: in which the arms are thrown forward together out of the water while the feet kick up and down.
• Back strokes: the arms are extended together in front of the head and swept back on either side accompanied by a frog kick.
• Butterfly strokes: swim on chest with both arms moving symmetrically, accompanied by the butterfly kicks.
• Crawl: front and back (slow and fast) arms are moved alternately overhead accompanied by a flitter kick.
• Floating: buoyed up by water or air.
• Kicking: legs are brought together in a scissoring motion.
• Dog paddle: lying on the chest and moving their hands and legs alternately in a manner reminiscent of how dogs and other quadrupedal mammals move.

HOW POPULAR IS SWIMMING?

36% of 7 to 17 years old children and 15% of grown-ups swim at least six (6) times in a year.  So, for me, I think swimming is around 50% popular and the most popular country that does the most swimming is United States of America. The most popular male swimmer is Michael Phelps and the most famous female swimmer is Jenny Thompson.

Swimming is indeed an art that can help you free your mind and enjoy the life in water.

References
www.verwellfamily.com
www.star2.com
www.britannica.com
en.wikipedia.org
www.swimmingpool.com
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.an
www.aquaventureswik.com

The Art of Swimming is Nola Metseagharun’s submission for the Jordan Hill Writing Challenge for February with a focus on information texts. Nola is an eleven-year-old student of Corona School Lekki, Lagos and a prolific writer on the Jordan Hill Young Writers’ Blog.