Swimming sports are a collection of individual or team events where people compete by propelling their bodies through water in various ways. One of the most popular categories of Olympic sports, swimming races are based on specific styles with unique techniques and training routines that include butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle, and medley (combination of styles). While swimming is a general human activity done in a variety of pool types, competitive swimming is done in 50m long swimming pools comprised of multiple designated lanes for each swimmer to occupy. Swimming equipment is designed to minimize water friction and includes swimsuits, swimming caps, and goggles.

What muscles does swimming work?

Swimming is a sport that uses most of the muscles in the body, but the five most important muscles used in swimming are: the lats (middle back muscles), triceps, pecs (pectoral chest muscles), core muscles (abs), and the quads or quadriceps (front upper leg muscles).

How many laps is a mile of swimming?

To swim a mile, which is understood as 1650 yards for a swimmer, a swimmer must complete 33 laps in a 50 meter (164 foot) pool and 66 laps in a 25 meter (82 foot) pool. A lap for a swimmer refers to swimming a one-way length of the pool.

How long is an olympic swimming pool?

Olympic swimming pools have an overall length of 164 feet (50 m). Other pool competitions may be conducted on a ‘Short Course’ pool with a length of 82 feet (25 m)—half the size of the Olympic pool.

Swimming Guides
Browse through our curated Swimming Guides for additional categorizations, tips, details, variations, styles, and histories of Swimming. Guides provide additional insights into the unique properties and shared relationships between elements.
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68’11” | 21 m
82’ | 25 m
25m Eight Lane Swimming Pool
2100.000
2500.000
5
GUIDE
3D
25m Eight Lane Swimming Pool
82’ | 25 m
164’ | 50 m
50m Ten Lane Olympic Pool
25000.000
5000.000
10
GUIDE
3D
50m Ten Lane Olympic Pool
Community Swimming Pools
40
GUIDE
3D
Community Swimming Pools
6’5” | 1.96 m
October 13, 1982
Ian Thorpe
196.000
1982.00
4200
GUIDE
3D
Ian Thorpe
5’5” | 1.65 m
August 28, 1971
Janet Evans
165.000
1971.00
1500
GUIDE
3D
Janet Evans
6’0” | 1.83 m
March 17, 1997
Katie Ledecky
183.000
1997.00
17000
GUIDE
3D
Katie Ledecky
6’0” | 1.83 m
February 10, 1950
Mark Spitz
183.000
1950.00
29000
GUIDE
3D
Mark Spitz
6’4” | 1.93 m
June 30, 1985
Michael Phelps
193.000
1985.00
110000
GUIDE
3D
Michael Phelps
1’10” | 56 cm
25” | 63.5 cm
Pool Ladders
56.000
63.500
4800
GUIDE
3D
Pool Ladders
Pool Lane Floor & Wall Details
0
GUIDE
3D
Pool Lane Floor & Wall Details
6’2” | 1.88 m
August 3, 1984
Ryan Lochte
188.000
1984.00
42000
GUIDE
3D
Ryan Lochte
15.75” | 40 cm
19.7” | 50 cm
19.7” | 50 cm
Swimming Starting Blocks
40.000
50.000
50.000
200
GUIDE
3D
Swimming Starting Blocks
Swimming Starting Blocks

Swimming Starting Blocks are visible in most Olympic pools and competitive pools where each individual starts their swim or relay with a dive from these blocks. Backstrokes races, however, don’t need an individual to use the starting blocks. The swimming starting blocks have grips, handles, and slots, with the handle being parallel to the end wall surface. The swimming starting blocks are available in different styles and varieties. The high variety type is fitted on the floor with projecting steps for an athlete to climb to the starting block and the low variety type fixed on the head wall.

Plan end elevation drawings of a swimming starting block with dimensions for heights and width
Swimming Starting Blocks are visible in most Olympic pools and competitive pools where each individual starts their swim or relay with a dive from these blocks. Backstrokes races, however, don’t need to use the starting blocks. The swimming starting blocks have grips, handles, and slots.

Plan end elevation drawings of a swimming starting block with dimensions for heights and width
Swimming Starting Blocks
Height:
15.75” | 40 cm
Width:
19.7” | 50 cm
Length:
Depth:
19.7” | 50 cm
Weight:
Area:

Top Angle: 10° maximum
Platform Depth: 3’3” | 1 m
Platform Height Above Water:
11.8” | 30 cm

Birthday

Drawings include:
Swimming Starting Blocks plan, front, back, side, section (pool with swimmer)

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Janet Evans
Scaled height comparison illustration of Janet Evans in relation to other swimmers

America's Janet Evans is the only female swimmer to collect back-to-back titles in Olympic and world championships. The retired American competitive swimmer specialized in distance freestyle events, winning four gold medals from the 1988 and 1993 Olympics. She also engaged in freestyle and individual medley and was a world champion and record holder of 400, 800, and 1,500-meter freestyle distances. In the Swimming World Magazine, Janet was named three times as the Female World Swimmer of the Year and has been admitted as an "Honor Swimmer" in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Janet Evans has a height of 5’5” (1.65 m).

Set of illustrations of Janet Evans in various swimming poses measured with overall height
America's Janet Evans is the only female swimmer to collect back-to-back titles in Olympic and world championships. The retired American competitive swimmer specialized in distance freestyle events, winning four gold medals from the 1988 and 1993 Olympics.

Janet Evans has a height of 5’5” (1.65 m).

Set of illustrations of Janet Evans in various swimming poses measured with overall height
Janet Evans
Height:
5’5” | 1.65 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Nationality: United States

Years Active: 1987-1996

Birthday
August 28, 1971

Drawings include:
Janet Evans standing, block, diving

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Mark Spitz
Height comparison diagram of Mark Spitz compared to other swimmers

Mark Spitz is a former American competitive swimmer who once dominated the sports in the 70s. He set thirty-five trials and unofficial world records. Mark is a nine-time Olympic champion and the first to set the record of winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic competition and the third currently to be holding nine Olympic gold medals. Mark has been named three times as World Swimmer of the Year and possesses eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles, thirty-one Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) titles, and five Pan American gold medals. His swimming achievements have granted him admission into five Halls of Fame.

Mark Spitz has a height of 6’0” (1.83 m).

Collection of drawings of Mark Spitz measured with overall height
Mark Spitz is a former American competitive swimmer who once dominated the sports in the 70s. He set thirty-five trials and unofficial world records. Mark is a nine-time Olympic champion and the first to set the record of winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic competition.

Mark Spitz has a height of 6’0” (1.83 m).

Collection of drawings of Mark Spitz measured with overall height
Mark Spitz
Height:
6’0” | 1.83 m
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Nationality: United States

Years Active: 1965-1972

Birthday
February 10, 1950

Drawings include:
Mark Spitz standing, bending, diving

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50m Ten Lane Olympic Swimming Pool

The 50m Ten Lane Olympic Swimming Pool may also be called “Long Course,” spotting movable bulkheads that can divide the pool into sections or be moved from one position to another, creating varying course lengths for competitors/competitions. These swimming pools replaced the 25m eight lane swimming pool in Olympic and World Championship Games, with impressive results as their large size and more lanes assisted swimmers in absorbing waves and reducing resistance. Besides, their increased depth reduced hydrodynamic drag for swimmers. The Aberdeen Aquatic Center is an example of a 50m ten lane Olympic swimming pool.

Set of section and plan drawings of a 50m 10-Lane Olympic Swimming Pool with measurements for lengths, widths, and depths
The 50m Ten Lane Olympic Swimming Pool may also be called “Long Course,” spotting movable bulkheads that can divide the pool into sections or be moved from one position to another, creating varying course lengths for competitors/competitions. These swimming pools replaced the 25m eight lane pools.

Set of section and plan drawings of a 50m 10-Lane Olympic Swimming Pool with measurements for lengths, widths, and depths
50m Ten Lane Olympic Swimming Pool
Height:
Width:
82’ | 25 m
Length:
164’ | 50 m
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Lane Width: 8’2” | 2.5 m
Depth: 6’7” | 2 m (minimum depth)
Backstroke Line: 16.5’ | 5 m
False Start Line: 49’2.5” | 15 m

Birthday

Drawings include:
50m Ten Lane Competitive Olympic Swimming Pool plan, section (long side), section (short side)

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Community Swimming Pools

A Community Swimming Pool is mostly for leisure and recreation. They may be heated or unheated, set indoor or outdoor with different sections for adults, children, and toddlers/infants. Community swimming pools may have hot tubs and can be found in hotels, resorts, and recreational areas. Community swimming pools can be any size and shape, have fountains, bridges, waterfalls, stairs, island bars, and diving boards. The water is chlorinated for safety and health purposes. Besides, some of these pools may have floaters to minimize accidents. Rosedale Pool in Washington DC is one such pool considered a community pool.

Plan drawings with dimensions of a variety of sizes for community swimming pools with multiple lane types
A Community Swimming Pool is mostly for leisure and recreation. They may be heated or unheated, set indoor or outdoor with different sections for adults, children, and toddlers/infants. Community swimming pools may have hot tubs and can be found in hotels, resorts, and recreational areas.

Plan drawings with dimensions of a variety of sizes for community swimming pools with multiple lane types
Community Swimming Pools
Height:
Width:
Length:
Depth:
Weight:
Area:

Small:
Lanes: 4
Length: 65’7” | 20 m
Width: 27’11” | 8.5 m

Medium:
Lanes: 4
Length: 82’ | 25 m
Width: 27’11” | 8.5 m

Large:

Lanes: 5
Length: 82’ | 25 m
Width: 34’5” | 10.5 m

X-Large:
Lanes: 6
Length: 82’ | 25 m
Width: 42’8” | 13 m

Birthday

Drawings include:
Community Swimming Pool plans (small, medium, large, x-large)

Details & Downloads

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