Swimming Olympic

Olympic swimming — contested in 50-meter outdoor pools since 1896, moving to indoor 50m pools in 1924 — covers distances from 50m sprint to 1500m endurance across four strokes (freestyle/front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly) plus individual medley and relay events. The sport's technology has transformed results: full-body polyurethane swimsuits (2008-2009) lowered records so dramatically they were banned; now performance swimwear is strictly regulated. Michael Phelps (USA) is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals (23 gold) — more than most countries. He has the proportions of a swimmer (wingspan 6'7" with 6'4" height, unusually long torso, and double-jointed ankles producing large foot propulsion). Ian Thorpe (Australia, 'The Thorpedo') and Mark Spitz (7 golds in 1972, all with world records) defined earlier eras. The 2008 Beijing Olympics swimsuit controversy led to 108 world records being broken in a single year before the suits were banned.