Internationally, competitive swimming came into prominence with its inclusion in the modern Olympic Games from their inception in 1896. Olympic events were originally only for men, but women’s events were added in 1912. Before the formation of FINA, the Games included some unusual events.

FINA was established in 1908, and for the next six decades, the Olympic Games remained the only international competitive swimming event. From 1908 to 1956, men swam only the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. Women swam only the freestyle at the Olympics until 1924, when FINA added backstroke and breaststroke events.

Swimming started its sporting journey in the mid-19th century, when the world’s first swimming organisation was formed in London in 1837. Inevitably, things soon became competitive and, in 1846, the first swimming championship was held in Australia.

Although swimming’s origins were rooted in leisure, the sport quickly evolved into a competition even before the first Olympic Games in 1896. In 1837, the first swimming organization was created in London and became known as England’s National Swimming Society. The name would later be changed to the Swimming Association of Great Britain in 1874.

Swimming as a competitive sport [ edit] Swimming emerged as a competitive sport in the early 1800s in England. In 1828, the first indoor swimming pool, St George's Baths, was opened to the public. [ 11] By 1837, the National Swimming Society was holding regular swimming competitions in six artificial swimming pools, built around London.