Swimming: Introduction and History (Video Notes)

50 VOCABULARY flashcards derived from the video notes.

Swimming

The act of moving through water by using the arms, legs, and body in motions called strokes; also the activity of propelling oneself in the water.

Stroke

A motion used to propel through water; the main strokes are crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and sidestroke.

Crawl (Front crawl / Freestyle)

One of the five main swimming strokes; also known as front crawl or freestyle.

Backstroke

A stroke swum on the back with alternating arm movements.

Breaststroke

One of the five main strokes.

Butterfly

One of the five main strokes; features a dolphin-like kick and simultaneous arm movement.

Sidestroke

One of the five main strokes; often used for safety and efficiency.

Dog paddle

The earliest form of swimming stroke, discovered as the dog-like motion and imitated from dogs.

Over-hand stroke

An over-hand stroke introduced by Trudgen; hand-over-hand movement.

Trudgen stroke

The over-hand stroke introduced by John Trudgen; later known as the Trudgen stroke.

Scissor kick

A kicking style used with the Trudgen stroke; involves a scissor-like motion.

Hand recovery

The phase of a stroke where the hand exits the water to re-enter.

Windmill action

Windmill-like arm action described in 1844 by North American Indians.

Australian crawl

Overhand stroke with leg action; Cavill’s discovery; differs from the American crawl by kick timing.

American crawl

Stroke similar to the Australian crawl; kick timed to arm strokes (six kicks per arm revolution).

Frederick Cavill

Englishman who observed rapid leg action in Australia and combined it with the double overhand stroke to create the Australian crawl.

John Arthur Trudgen

Englishman who introduced an over-hand stroke with a scissor kick and hand recovery.

South American Indians

People whose stroke style inspired Trudgen's over-hand approach.

London meet 1844

North American Indians competed in London; their style featured windmill-like arm action and a crawl-like kick.

Ramses II

Ancient Egyptian pharaoh whose wall relief shows soldiers swimming across the Orontes River.

Orontes River

River crossed by ancient Egyptian soldiers in relief; location between Egypt and Asia Minor.

Ancient Greece

Swimming was highly esteemed as training for warriors.

Ancient Rome

Swimming was highly esteemed as training for warriors.

Japan (1st century BC) competitions

Competitions held in Japan as early as the 1st century BC.

Middle Ages

In Europe, swimming was less popular, with immersion in water linked to recurrent epidemics.

Yale University

One of the colleges that helped spread interest in swimming as a competitive sport in the late 19th century.

Indiana University

University that helped spread interest in competitive swimming.

University of Southern California

University that helped spread interest in competitive swimming.

Matthew Webb

First person to swim across the English Channel in 1875.

English Channel

Body of water between Dover, England and Calais, France; about 32 km wide.

Dover

Port in England near the English Channel.

Calais

Port in France near the English Channel.

Width of the English Channel

Approximately 32 kilometers across.

1896 Olympic Games

First modern Olympic Games; swimming was one of the events.

IOC

International Olympic Committee; governing body of the Olympic Games.

FINA

Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur; governs most international swimming competitions.

Long-course world championships

World championships held in 50-meter pools.

Short-course world championships

World championships held in 25-meter pools.

World Cup circuit

FINA-sponsored circuit of swimming meets in 25-meter pools.

Pan-Pacific Championships

Regional championships for nations in Asia and the Pacific region.

European Championships

Regional swimming championships in Europe.

Pan American Games

Games for nations of North and South America.

African championships

Continental championships for African nations.

Philippine Amateur Swimming Association

The Philippines' national swimming authority overseeing safety rules.

Buddy System

Never swim alone; always swim with a partner.

Misjudging a dive

Diving error that can lead to injury by misjudging depth.

Holding breath too long

Excessive breath-holding can cause exhaustion or injury.

Do not overestimate your ability

Exercise caution and avoid overestimating swimming skill.

Never depend on air-filled floating devices

Do not rely on life jackets or floats for safety.

Avoid strenuous swimming after eating

Wait before swimming to prevent cramps or discomfort.

Never swim during a thunderstorm

Do not swim when lightning or storms are present.

Leave the water if you feel chilly

Exit the water to warm up if you start to feel cold.

Don’t clown around

Stay focused and avoid unsafe behavior around water.

Always look before you jump or dive

Check water depth and hazards before entering.

After violent exercise, cramps

Violent exertion followed by sudden chilling can cause cramps.

Don’t overheat muscles before entering the water

Avoid overheating the muscles prior to swimming.

If you feel ill, do not swim

Do not swim when feeling unwell.

If you get into trouble, call for help

Relax and follow instructions from the rescuer.