Global Sports Odyssey

Global Sports Odyssey


Swimming - History, Major Competitions, and Notable Swimmers

September 18, 2025

This episode explores the evolution of swimming from an ancient survival skill to a global competitive sport. We begin with evidence of early swimming in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, before following its transformation in 19th-century Europe into an organized sport. Swimming became part of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, and governing bodies like FINA helped establish rules, strokes, and competitions that shaped modern swimming.