No matter what the distance or stroke, the object of any swimming race is to complete the course in the shortest possible time.

There are four main competitive swimming styles: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. With 46 events in the Olympic and Paralympic timetable, any swimming competition will always prove to be a fast and exciting day out! As a sport that requires dedication and passion, there are over 150 000 in the UK people who are also committed and involved in competitive swimming.

Did you know...?

The pressure and resistance of the water makes your body work that little bit harder. 30 minutes of activity in the water is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land.

Psychological studies have shown that swimmers report significantly less tension, depression, anger, confusion, and more vigour after exercising compared to before.

American swimmer Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics alone, in total he has won 16 Olympic medals (14 gold and 2 bronze).

Rebecca Adlington won gold in the Women's 400m Freestyle the 800m Freestyle at the Beijing Olympics, breaking the longest standing record left in the swimming pool. She became the first British woman to win a gold medal in the swimming pool since 1960.