---
id:"kb-2026-00450"
title:"Swimming Strokes"
schema_type:"TechArticle"
category:"sports"
language:"en"
confidence:"high"
last_verified:"2026-05-22"
generation_method:"ai_assisted"
ai_models:["claude-opus"]
derived_from_human_seed:true
primary_sources:
  - title:"Total Immersion (Terry Laughlin)"
    type:"book"
    year:2004
    url:"https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Total-Immersion/Terry-Laughlin/9780743253434"
    institution:"Fireside"
secondary_sources:
  - title: "MDN Web Docs — HTTP"
    type: "documentation"
    year: 2026
    url: "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP"
    institution: "Mozilla"
completeness: 0.88
ai_citations:
  last_citation_check:"2026-05-22"
---

## TL;DR

Competitive swimming has 4 strokes: freestyle (fastest, front crawl), backstroke (only stroke swum on back), breaststroke (slowest, simultaneous arm/leg motion), butterfly (most demanding, simultaneous overhead arm recovery). Medley: individual (one swimmer all 4) or relay (4 swimmers, each one stroke).

## Core Explanation

Freestyle: alternate arm pulls, flutter kick, breathing to side every 2-3 strokes. Butterfly: dolphin kick, both arms recover over water simultaneously — Michael Phelps' signature stroke. Turns: flip turn (freestyle/backstroke), open turn (breaststroke/butterfly). Starts: dive from blocks except backstroke (in-water start). Olympic pool: 50m long, 10 lanes. Best overall: Phelps (23 gold medals).

## Further Reading

- [Total Immersion (Terry Laughlin)](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Total-Immersion/Terry-Laughlin/9780743253434)