Malaysia Sports
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Swimming
The aquatic sport of swimming is based on the human act of swimming, that is, locomotion in water by self propulsion, usually with the goal to complete a given distance in the smallest amount of time. There are also swimming competitions based on endurance or precedence rather than speed, such as crossing the English Channel or some other stretch of open water. As a sport, swimming is usually distinguished from other aquatic sports (such as diving, synchronized swimming and water polo) that involve the act of swimming but where the goal is neither speed nor endurance.
Competitive swimming consist of four different strokes. The different strokes one can swim in a race are the butterfly, breaststroke, freestyle (or front crawl), and backstroke. When all four strokes are done during a race, it is called medley swimming (known as the individual medley, or I.M., when performed by a single swimmer, and as the medley relay when each stroke is performed by a separate swimmer on a relay team).
Swimming has been part of the modern Olympic Games since their inception in 1896, and is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA). The belief is widely held that swimming is the best aerobic exercise in the world.
History
Competitive swimming in Europe started around 1800, mostly using breaststroke. In 1873 John Arthur Trudgen introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native Americans. Due to a British disregard for splashing, Trudgen employed a scissor kick instead of the front crawl's flutter kick. Swimming was part of the first modern Olympic games in 1896 in Athens. In 1902 Richard Cavill introduced the front crawl to the Western world. In 1908, the world swimming association, Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), was formed. The butterfly stroke was developed in the 1930s and was at first a variant of breaststroke, until it was accepted as a separate style in 1952.
Modalities
Butterfly or fly: the course must be completed entirely in the butterfly style, in which the swimmer brings his or her arms near full extension and releases at the waist. While the swimmer's arms are at full extension the head comes up to take a breath as the arms pull down. As the swimmer release the water past their hips, they bring their arms up and out into the recovery while the head goes back down. "Dolphin kicking" (undulating) with both feet together in sequence with two kicks per arm stroke. Usually there is a kick while the hands are at full extension and then one at the recovery when the hands are at their hips. All end walls must be touched with two hands, and the swimmer will be disqualified if his/her arms do not clear the water at the same time. Typical distances include 25 (swimmers aged 8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200 meters or yards (depending on the pool).
Backstroke or back: competitors must swim in the backstroke style, which is similar to the front crawl, except on the back. Kicking is done by alternating both feet continuously and pulling each arm one at a time in a windmill motion on the side of the body. At the end walls, flip turns are permitted (the swimmer is to turn on to his/her front before performing the turn and this turn is the same as a front crawl once on the stomach), and a two-hand touch is not necessary. Typical distances include 25 (swimmers aged 8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200 meters or yards (depending on the pool). Many swimmers take adtange of overhead backstroke flags to count a specific amount of strokes to plan when the flip turn will take place. This timing is important for competition.
Breaststroke or breast: competitors must swim in the breaststroke style, where the swimmer kicks legs out (much like a frog, but more whip like and with the knees staying closely together), scoops the water in towards the chest with his or her hands and then while the hands are together, thrusts the hands out in front just before the kick is repeated. The breath is started as the hands pull the water from full extension, the head bobs up, and then put back down as the arms thrust forward. One underwater "pull-out" is permitted for the start and after every end wall, with, in order: streamline glide, one fully extended pull, one breaststroke kick while bringing the hands back forward. This pullout is done under water without a breath. The two hands must touch the wall simultaneously at every turn like in the butterfly modality. After the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, thanks to Kosuke Kitajima, there was an adjustment made to the underwater "pull-out". The new rule states that you a swimmer may also perform a single downward dolphin kick (upward is not permitted). Kosuke Kitajima was the first breaststroke swimmer to perform such "pull-out". Typical distances include 25 (swimmers aged 8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200 meters or yards (depending on the pool).
Freestyle or free: competitors are free to use any stroke they wish. Most select the front crawl, as it is both the fastest and most efficient. The front crawl is where the swimmer breathes to the side with typically one ear staying in the water, kicks by alternating both legs, and pulls with each arm moving in an alternating fashion. Flip/tumble turns are legal and are most common. Variants include free relays, in which four team members each swim an equal distance of freestyle; when one member touches the end wall, the next dives off the block. Typical distances are 25 (swimmers aged 8 years and younger typically swim this length), 50, 100, 200, 400, 500, 800, 1000, 1500 and 1650 meters or yards (depending on the pool).
Swimwear
Swimsuit The suit covers the skin for modesty. Competitive swimwear seeks to improve upon bare human skin for a speed advantage. For extra speed a swimmer wears a body suit, which has rubber or plastic bumps that break up the water close to the body and provides a small amount of thrust—just barely enough to help a swimmer swim faster.
Swim cap A swim cap (a.k.a. cap) keeps the swimmers hair out of the way to reduce drag. During practice, caps may have different sayings, patterns or both. Latex Caps are made of latex which sticks to anything. If you are having trouble putting on this type of cap or removing it, try putting water on the cap, place your hands on you forehead with your cap between your fingers and forehead, then have someone pull the back of the cap over your head. This is easy to tell by both how it looks and how it feels.Silicone Caps This cap is very stretchy, yet is snug. If you are having trouble putting this cap on, place both hands in the cap, stretch the cap out, place your head down in the front of the cap, and pull it back, over your head, and pull your hands out. Tuck any loose hair back in. Lycra Cap This is a type of cap that does not pull on your hair like latex caps. However, it is not as snug as silicone. Serious competitive swimmers normally do not use Lycra Caps because they produce a lot of drag.
Goggles Goggles keep water and chlorine out of swimmers eyes. Prescription goggles can help those that need glasses by allowing them to see the clock or scoreboard in practice or a swim meet. If you have contacts, you should find ones that are a more dependable to prevent protein build-up in your eyes (including starts). Goggles with a tint may help protect your eyes from damage or burns and are handy for outdoor swimming.
Famous Malaysian Swimmers
Siow Yi Teng
She was ranked no.1 in 2008 Summer Olympic in Beijing and ranked no.3 in 2000 summer Olympic in Sydney.
posted by Kumpulan Boonx2 on 6:58 AM
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