Backstroke

Backstroke is one of the three swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of not seeing where the swimmer is heading to. It is also the only competition swimming style that starts in the water. The swimming style is similar to an upside down front crawl. Both backstroke and front crawl are long-axis strokes.

History

Backstroke was the first regulated style other than Freestyle which was swum at competitions. The 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris included a 200m backstroke race. In the early times, backstroke was swum with straight arms, but in the modern times, it is almost always swum with bent arms underwater. (see: History of swimming)

Related Topics:
Freestyle - 1900 Summer Olympics - Paris - History of swimming

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