Swimming Basics Trivia Quiz

Answer: breastroke

With younger swimmers, the breaststroke is often referred to as the "frog" stroke.

Answer: Freestyle

Freestyle is indeed the stroke in which young swimmers first compete in and is the fastest stroke for 99% of swimmers. The speed of swimmer's strokes is usually as follows (in descending order of speed): freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke. In some cases when a swimmer is strong in breaststroke or backstroke, the stroke may indeed be faster than butterfly.

Answer: blocks

The starter of the race usually says "Step up, take your marks" to signal the swimmers to step upon the blocks before the gun or beep sounds.

Answer: meters and yards

Indeed, meters and yards are used to measure swimming pools. In the Olympic Games, and other international competitions such as the Goodwill Games, pools are measured in meters. In collegiate and high school competitions, yards are used to measure pool lengths. In local children's competitions, yards are usually used in the winter, while meters are used in the summer.

Answer: 8

Some pools have two extra unused lanes on each side, making a grand total of 10. The lanes are placed there because waves caused by the swimmers can splash and backfire off of the pool walls on a swimmer swimming in a lane against the wall, which is why those lanes are left open.

Answer: freestyle and backstroke

In freestyle, swimmers may do a somersault before they reach the wall to push off with their feet for a faster turn that touching with the hands. In most backstroke competitions, the swimmer may turn onto their stomach to perform a flip turn and then return to swimming on their back.

In butterfly and breaststroke, the swimmer must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously and then turn around to continue the race.

Answer: 4

There are two main relays in competition today, with varying distances among them. The two relays are the medley relay, in which each of the four swimmers swims a different stroke (backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle), and the freestyle relay.

Answer: Individual Medley

An Individual Medley is, obviously, an individual race. In the IM, one swimmer swims an equal amount each stroke in the order of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. A good IM swimmer must have four strong strokes to be successful. The IM is usually swam from distances of 100 to 400 yards or meters.

Answer: the swimmer is disqualified

No false starts are allowed in the Olympic Games in swimming. Even in a relay, if one swimmer in the preliminary round dives in before another swimmer touches, the whole team is disqualified from all rounds of the relay. There are many other ways in which a swimmer can be disqualified.

A swimmer may swim the wrong stroke, have a flaw in the stroke or turn, or be using illegal substances, all of which result in disqualification is most leagues. In some leagues, the "freestyle" event does not limit the swimmer to the basic front crawl.

A swimmer may swim any stroke in a freestyle event in some leagues, although freestyle is usually the fastest.

Answer: South Africa, Costa Rica, and Ukraine

South Africa's Penny Heyns took a bronze in the women's 100m breaststroke, Costa Rica's Claudia Poll took a bronze in the women's 200m freestyle, while Ukraine's Yana Klochkova took two golds in the women's 200m and 400m IM's and a silver in the 800m freestyle. Powers in world swimming remain to be the United States and Australia for the moment. I hope you have fun with this quiz.