Swimming has been an Olympic sport since the inception of the Games,
with the 100, 400, and 1500 freestyles being the original events along
with the 100 freestyle for sailors. While the spirit of the sport
remains the same, the technology and the competitive formats have
advanced tremendously through the years. The number of events contested
in competition has increased to the point where the program for a
typical international meet, such as the World Championships or Olympics,
produces a true reflection of the best swimmers over various distances
and in different strokes. The Historical Dictionary of Competitive
Swimming examines the sport of swimming since its inception as a
competitive athletic event. This is done through a chronology, an
introductory essay, a bibliography, and appendixes that detail Olympic
and World Championships medal winners. The dictionary section has over
500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on individuals, major
competitions, and there are also entries for each of the competitive
strokes and countries that have enjoyed significant success in the
sport.