Medley swimming in details

There are tour types of swimming, which are denoted by the terms “freestyle”, “butterfly”, “breaststroke”, and “backstroke”. When a sportsman uses all of them in a particular combination, he or she is practicing medley swimming, which is basically a mix of these four styles. This discipline is very popular and is considered an Olympic sport. Let us take a closer look at medley swimming.

Individual medley

The alternation of styles is as follows:

1. Butterfly;
2. Backstroke;
3. Brass;
4. Freestyle (i.e. crawl on the chest).

This order is very logical and easy to remember. Butterfly is put first, as the hardest style. If it is put at the end, the swimmer will be tired by the end and will not be able to swim quickly and spectacularly. Backstroke comes second because it gives swimmers an opportunity to have a little break. Freestyle is put at the end of the distance because it makes it possible to work out as much as possible. It requires more energy since it involves active arms flailing and strong leg work. Less energy-consuming breaststroke, respectively, is set third.

Medley relay

In addition to individual medley, international competitions also include team relays. There are four swimmers in a team, each swimming in a different style (50 meters per person for 200 meters and 100 meters per person for 400 meters).

The order of styles is different in medley relay:

1. Backstroke;
2. Brass;
3. Butterfly;
4. Freestyle

This is because it is not necessary to adjust the load of styles for one athlete. The relay starts on the backstroke because in other cases, it would be too dangerous for swimmers. If backstroke was in the middle of the relay, the swimmers would have to bend in the air as they dived over their swimmer teammate to get into position or let themselves get hit while waiting in the water.

Styles

Let us characterize the styles. Freestyle is fast and efficient. This is the fastest style of swimming. But at the same time you can swim quite a long distance without much effort. It has the following peculiarities:

• It is fast and not too difficult.
• It allows swimming intense sprints, which is good for losing weight.
• It involves mastering a complicated breathing technique.
• It requires high coordination.

Backstroke is usually quite easy. Small children primarily learn to swim this way. The crawl on the back is faster than breaststroke but slower than freestyle or butterfly. Doctors often recommend this type of swimming to those who suffer from back problems. What are the peculiarities of backstroke?

• It is the easiest style to master.
• It allows having some “rest” in the water.
• The speed of swimming is not too high.
• Spray often gets in the mouth and nose when a sportsman swims fast, which disrupts breathing.

Brass is the most popular type of swimming in the world. In fact, most people who have learned to swim on their own know how to swim only in breaststroke. The main advantage of this style is that you can swim keeping your head above the water without having any problems with breathing and orientation in space. Let us describe its peculiarities.

• It is the slowest style of swimming.
• It does not require general physical preparation for beginners.
• It allows swimming in a very relaxed mode.

Butterfly is known for its unusual technique and fluidity of movement. In addition to quite complex and smooth movements, this style of swimming requires an enormous physical strength.

• It is the most beautiful and spectacular style of swimming.
• This is the second fastest style after freestyle.
• It is very demanding when it comes to the swimmer’s strength.
• It is hardly suitable for long swims.

Changing the style

Sportsmen who compete in individual medley have to be able to switch from one style to another in seconds. When the style is changed from butterfly to backstroke, it is necessary to do a pendulum after touching the wall with both hands. When switching from backstroke to brass, it is necessary to do either a somersault or a pendulum. Finally, switching from brass to freestyle requires doing a pendulum as well.

When it comes to medley relay, it is important to follow one rule: when one sportsman touches the wall of the swimming pool, the next teammate must touch the starting platform with his or her leg. It is allowed to already start jumping, but the leg must touch this surface.

Distances

Medley swimming is a discipline, in which distances are similar for men and women. They mostly depend on the dimensions of the swimming pool. If its length is 50 meters, the distances are 200 and 400 meters. Such pools are used for the Olympic Games and the World Championship. As for the pools with the length of 25 meters, the following distances are distinguished: 100 meters for individual medley and 200 meters for medley relay.

As you can see, medley swimming is a fascinating swimming discipline that is very popular all over the world. This sport requires a lot of experience and physical strength. At the same time, it is one of the most available disciplines among all sports.