Interesting Facts About Swimming

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

  • Swimming started in the 1st century.

  • Over 50% of world-class swimmers suffer from shoulder pain.

  • Swimming has been a part of the Olympics since 1896.

  • Some people think swimming started when a person fell into the water and panicking, he started to swim in a way we call today dog paddle.

  • Egyptians made a picture or symbol for swimming as far back as 2500 A.

  • Peanuts are a source of energy for swimmers.

  • Drags slow you down in swimming because they are not skin tight.

  • The shorter your hair is the more chance you have for swimming faster because there is less friction.

  • Swimming can be done for competition and it is helpful in survival.

  • An hour of vigorous swimming will burn up to 650 calories. It burns off more calories than walking or biking.

  • Swimming strengthens the heart and lungs


  • Swimming works out all of the body’s major muscles

  • Swimming help reduce stress

  • Water’s buoyancy make swimming the ideal exercise for physical therapy and rehabilitation or for anyone seeking a low-impact exercise.

  • Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise because you are moving against the water’s resistance, which is over ten times that of the air.

  • You can swim for exercise no matter what your age. Some people teach their infants and toddlers how to swim so that they will learn to love and respect the water at a very early age. I also know people well into their eighties who swim regularly to stay in shape.

  • An estimated 65 thousand people in the United States alone do not know how to swim. Many of them learned as young children but never go to a pool, lake, river, or ocean anymore and have forgotten how to swim over the years. Others were never taught and continue to avoid the activity altogether. It was once thought that knowing how to swim was important for safety reasons, but now it is pretty much left up to the individual.

  • Swimming in extremely cold water can be very dangerous. People with heart conditions or other ailments, as well as elderly people, should avoid swimming in water that is too cold. Cold water cools down the human body 25 times faster that cold air does, so swimming in water that is below about 15 degrees Celsius should never be undertaken. This can lead to thermal shock, hypothermia, and eventual death.

  • Swimming is also a very safe form of exercise because it is considered to be low impact and easy on the bones and joints. You can do exercises in the water using floats and weights and enjoy a good workout without worrying about serious injury. This is especially true if you have arthritis or other types of physical limitations.

  • It really is true that you shouldn't swim for about an hour after eating. This is primarily because your body is digesting your food and you may get a cramp during the time right after you eat. Allow your body to rest after eating and then go into the water.

  • Swimming is a good way to lose weight. This form of exercise will stimulate your entire body and could lead to an increase in metabolism over time. If you are trying to lose weight, swim for at least twenty minutes three or four times each week.

  • Going swimming is very relaxing and has been compared to yoga and meditation in terms of its soothing effect on the mind and body.

75 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is not true that you have to wait an hour after eating before you swim. It is all up to what you are used to. I am on a swim team and in the water every night-and right before leaving I have dinner. I never get cramps so it is all up to what your body is used to.

Anonymous said...

OMG now i realized all the things my coach tells me are really true... the losing weight, the strengthening of heart and lungs, the stress reduction.. whoa..! nice nice! -Swimmer

Anonymous said...

Wow, i never knew there was so many other people that didnt know how to swim. I just thought that there was something wrong with me.

Anonymous said...

You guys are so right i never get any cramps or anything when i eat then swim. For all the people out there you should be ok due to what your body is used to. 8)

Anonymous said...

thanx that really helped i wanted to know info before i start swimming

Emo said...

I love swimming! Everything is so true about what they said!!!!

tausha said...

swimming is good for you so it is true what they say haha

tausha said...

it is true so stop hating on what they say because they know more then us.

Anonymous said...

that is so cool because itz sooooooooooo cool!

Janhavi said...

Swimming is cool and it helps to keep you healthy and fit.When I joined swimming,all my stress is gone and my muscles are very fit

swimmer101 said...

I am on a swim team an when i have a break for bathroom i quickly eat a sanck for some extra energy and i hav never gotten a cramp.

Anonymous said...

I am on the swim team.

Anonymous said...

Wow its mint to get info on swimmin.I totally agree i never get cramps after eating then swimming even when you tumms full or emty tar! ;)
:)

bella said...

it depends what body you've got because i get a cramp but my friend does so thats your anser :)

Anonymous said...

I love these interesting fact!

Anonymous said...

Stomach Cramps aren't really rare but i always have a quick snack before i go swimming and i never get stomach cramps, it depends on what your body is use to and stuff. But always remember to stretch beforing major swimming because i forgot to stretch once and i got a really bad cramp in my leg and it hurt really bad

Anonymous said...

Swimming is soooooooooooooooooooooooo awesome :)

Anonymous said...

You're supposed to wait 30 minutes after you eat to swim again

Anonymous said...

You're supposed to wait half an hour after you eat to swim again

Anonymous said...

eating does not always give you cramps. sometimes it is a lack of salt and minerals. other times you'll just be a wimp and sit. and then your body could need water or you have to go to the bathroom.
swimming is awesome!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I totally love swimming and the i am on a swim team in the summer and I'm naturally pretty thin to start with but i lose like 5-10lbs every summer! its great! swimming is amazing!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with what you said!

Anonymous said...

i love swimming and i did not know any of this it is very supprizing for me i really had no clue what so ever

Anonymous said...

i am in the swim team too and i neva get cramps

Anonymous said...

I love swimming im doing my homework on this it realy helps my support and my learning times on olyimpics and swimming to keep fit

Anonymous said...

ITS MY HOMEWORK TO IM SAL,MAN

Anonymous said...

copy and pasted some of these facts onto my powerpoint which is homework! ;) thanks alot also i love swimming wish i could find the time 2 do it more often.

Anonymous said...

OMG that means that i burn like, 1000 calories a night! no wonder i don't gain weight even though i eat a ton.

-swim team member

Anonymous said...

uhhhhhhh.......i think......well......never mind

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh thats why i am not getting fat! Thats it i swim an hour and a half every day. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Sweet xD

Anonymous said...

Awesome! I needed this for a report. I'l make sure to write it on the bibliography! :D
-Guy in San Jose

Anonymous said...

i didn't know that . wow i'll be thinking about this when i'm in the pool doing all the strokes.

Anonymous said...

i am doing my homework it is a quite good website

Anonymous said...

i am doing my homework it is a quite good website ITS FUN SWIMMING

Anonymous said...

thanks im doing report it helps.

Anonymous said...

helps on my report ill tell my frinds.

Anonymous said...

i love swimming

Anonymous said...

you alwase talk about cramps!

Anonymous said...

This is sweet need it for my science fair,will put you in my citation:-)

Unknown said...

Nice post. I really. You have shared very interesting facts about swimming. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

OMG I can't believe I joined swimming when I was 4. I LOVE SWIMMING THAN ANYONE I AM ON LEVEL
!!!7:)!!!

Anonymous said...

The reason i love swimming so much is because it doesn't feel like any work but the it like toda and your fit.
and you can't see when your all sweaty.

Anonymous said...

i love swimming and this makes it better

Anonymous said...

Revealing..

the book review girl? said...

I have a language arts report on swimming... Great site!

Anonymous said...

The only thing that I am concerned with swimming is that you get the shoulder pain, I hope that it does not happen to a casual swimmers that swim two or three times a week

Anonymous said...

I love swimming and I go every week for an hour and I go like three times a week alll day in the summer time at my grandma and grandpas campground, but I never lose weight! I don't wanna be chubby forever!

Anonymous said...

You dont always get cramps after eating. It depends on the food that you eat and the amount.

Anonymous said...

Yes u will never get crampas but u will vomit

Anonymous said...

I love swimming! I really think that you might have to wait an hour before you go into the pool and swim after you eat, that is, if you are not used to swimming right after eating, and I can soooo see why my friend loves swimming, its practically her life, for me, its just something that I love, and swimming does make me relaxed, even if its for two minutes. and my other friend doesn't know how to swim, and we are in this sort of club that gets you ready for a swim team, and level four is the highest, so I got into level four on my trial, and since my friend didn't have a bathing suite, she couldn't go into the water, so she was just there watching me and her brother ( who ended up on level 2) and since they couldn't asses her, they just assumed that she would catch up, if she didn't know how to swim. and if it weren't for me, she would have ended up in level 1. I now, I have to give her lessons, if our parents allow us to have any lessons. I just can't believe that there are a lot of people who can't swim (no offense). (:o

Anonymous said...

doin me homework cool aint it

Anonymous said...

I often go swimming lately. Everybody noticed that I look slimmer than before. When I check on the weighing scale, I had a slight increase in my weigh. Getting in shape by swimming works for me but not for losing weigh. Peace- future lifeguard

Mayapandit said...

swimming is definitely the best exercise to lose weight but these facts are simply amazing, i was totally amazed while reading them.

Anonymous said...

true... swimming does help me relax and feel exercised! -swim team member

Anonymous said...

I am on competitive team I know how all of this stuff works. swimming is sooooooooo fun!

Anonymous said...

I am on a swim team I know how all this stuff works. swimming is soooooooooo fun!

Anonymous said...

I LUV SWIMMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND SWIM TEAMS!!!!!!!!!!!AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH SWIMMING!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

All are true, tanks :) you just helped me with my project

Anonymous said...

I do 20 minutes not thirty but yes it is true and i love swimming

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Anonymous said...

Swimming is great for you body and mind.🏊

Unknown said...

My little girls love the swimming pool. Everyday in the summer they beg to go swimming. I just want to feel comfortable while they're in the pool, I don't want to worry. I'm excited for them to learn how to swim. http://www.bandcaquatics.com/

filip said...

it helped a lot! thanks:)

Anonymous said...

thanks it helped a lot.

Unknown said...

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Unknown said...

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Unknown said...

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Aliena Joe said...

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Anonymous said...

Some people thing swimming is boring but check it out like people say don't check a book from its cover but always remember if you don't know how to swim stay by a adult that does know how to swim. Always have a parent or someone big when you are learning to swim you might tip over in to very big portions of water.
Listen you what he said because those are all true like the Penutian one helped me out a lot
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Anonymous said...

I'm doing homework it's pretty cool

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

Started swimming regularily with a buddy for about 2 months. I gotta say, after were done, im in such a great mood everytime, for about a year my life was very stressful, I gotta say I feel a ton better after each and every swim. Plus it also burns calories, and most importantly you have fun doing it.