Competitive swimming races are held all over the world and have been popular Olympic events. Different events are defined by the length of the races and even the length of the pools in which they take place. Most competitive swimmers are skilled in the four Olympic strokes. They train for quickness and power to succeed in short races and for endurance to compete in longer events.
Long Course
Long-course swimming races take place in pools with lanes that measure 50 meters in length. This is the Olympic standard pool length. British Swimming says long-course events are measured by distance, usually 50 meters, 100 meters and 200 meters. A single event is designed for each of the competitive strokes, which are the freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke. Only the freestyle is featured in a 400-meter race. It is also featured in extended races of 800 meters for women and 1,500 meters for men.
Short Course
Short-course swimming races are held in pools in which the lanes measure 25 meters in length. According to British Swimming, the distances of the races and the strokes applied are the same in short-course and long-course events. The major difference is that the swimmers must turn twice as often. By employing the tumble turn, which is an underwater roll at the end of a lap, a short-course competitor can create extra momentum and enhance his speed by pushing off the wall with his feet.
Medley
The medley is a team event. A team consists of four people, and each member swims a different stroke, one after the other in a relay race. According to the rules for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the race begins with the backstroke, which the first swimmer starts from inside the pool. The other team members begin their races by diving off the starting blocks. They swim the breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle in that order.
Open Water
Open-water swimming events take place outdoors in lakes and other natural bodies of water. These tend to be long-distance races that employ the freestyle stroke in which the competitors must negotiate natural conditions such as waves and uncontrolled temperatures. Events can be as short as 200 meters and as long as 88 kilometers, or about 55 miles. Most international open-water swimming races are sanctioned at about three miles, six miles and 15 miles.
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