The term “fly” in swimming is short for the “butterfly,” a specific stroke in swimming that is included in individual and mixed medley relay events. Unlike the crawl, in which swimmers alternate arms coming out of the water, the butterfly stroke requires swimmers to bring both arms out of the water at the same time. It can be a challenging stroke, but “fly” swimmers develop powerful shoulders. “Fly” events are popular among male and female swimmers.
How It's Done
When you lift both arms out of the water, they will start by your hips. You will then fling them forward without dragging them through the water. Your legs will do a dolphin kick, which means your legs stay together and undulate under the water, rather than do a traditional kick at the surface of the pool.
Events
The "fly" is considered more of a stroke for sprints, rather than longer races in the Olympics. In the men's and women's events, there is the 100-meter and 200-meter fly, as well as the 4x100-meter team medley relay and the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley. The team medley relay includes four racers doing four different events: the freestyle, butterfly, breast stroke and back stroke. Individual medley races include the same strokes.
Great Butterfly Swimmers
Among the greatest individual butterfly swimmers in history are Americans Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz among the men, and Swedes Therese Alshammar and Sarah Sjostrom, along with Liu Zige of China. Phelps, who set world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly in 2009, as well as the 4x100-meter medley relay that same year.
Tips
To improve your butterfly technique, kick your legs down as your hands enter the water and as your hands leave the water. Also, keep your head down as your arms go over the water. Try to breathe in and out very quickly. And when you're doing your dolphin kick, keep your legs together, but not too close. Turn your feet in to make them more like a dolphin's tale.
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