Supporting Canadian Swimmers Swimming is the third largest sport in world behind soccer and track and field. Swimming Natatione Canada (SNC) is the overseeing body for the sport in Canada, and each province has a provincial member organization under which all clubs and competitive swimmers belong. SNC is the Canadian member for FINA, the International Federation for Swimming. Everything regarding the competitive aspects for sport for our athletes falls under the jurisdiction of these bodies.
The Strokes
Freestyle: Commonly known as the crawl, it is characterized by the alternate stroking of the arms over the water surface and an alternating (up-and-down) flutter kick. On turns and finishes, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. Most swimmers do a flip-turn.
Backstroke: Consists of an alternating motion of the arms with a flutter kick while on the back. On turns, swimmers may rotate to the stomach and perform a flip turn and some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. The swimmer must finish on the back.
Breaststroke: This is the oldest of all swim strokes, dating back hundreds of years. It requires simultaneous movements of the arms on the same horizontal plane. The hands are pressed out in front of the breast in a heart shaped pattern and recovered under or on the surface of the water. The kick is a simultaneous somewhat circular motion similar to the action of a frog. On turn and finishes, the swimmer must touch the wall both hands simultaneously above or below the water surface.
Fly: Some consider the butterfly to be the most beautiful of the strokes. It features a simultaneous recovery of the arms over the water combined with an undulating dolphin kick. In the kick, the swimmer must keep both legs together and may not flutter, scissor, or use the breaststroke kick. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously on the turns and finish. Interesting fact: The fly is the newest stroke and was developed in the early 1950s as a variation of the breaststroke. It became and Olympic stroke in 1956 in
Some more information on some other aspects of the race world.
The individual medley, also commonly referred to as the IM, features all four strokes. In the IM, the swimmer begins with the butterfly, then after one-fourth of the race, changes to backstroke, followed by breaststroke, and finishes with freestyle.
In the medley relay, all four strokes are swum. The first swimmer swims backstroke, the second breaststroke, the third butterfly, and the final swimmer anchors the relay with freestyle.
The freestyle relay consists of four freestylers, each swimming one quarter of the total distance of the event.
“Starts” refers to the beginning of a race. The swimmer is called to the starting position by the starter, who visually checks that all swimmers are motionless. When all swimmers are set, the starting horn is sounded to start the race. If the starter feels that one of the swimmers has moved, left early, or gotten an unfair advantage, the guilty swimmer may be disqualified after the race for a false start.