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types of strokes

Four basic categories are recognized by the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA): the breaststroke, the butterfly, the backstroke and freestyle (the crawl).

See types of strokes in : french | spanish

front crawl stroke

Stroke performed on the stomach in which the arms alternate in moving toward the front; it is very fast and is usually used in freestyle races.

starting dive

Dive enabling the swimmer to thrust the body into the water; the swimmer pushes off with the legs, extends the body and enters the water head first.

starting block

breathing out

Expulsion of air; the swimmer breathes out when the face is underwater.

respiratory system

turning wall

Wall that the swimmer must touch before turning around; during the turn, the athlete pushes from the wall with the feet.

crawl kick

Movement in which the outstretched legs alternate in beating up and down.

breathing in

Action of drawing air into the lungs; to breathe in, the swimmer turns the head slightly, without lifting it.

respiratory system

flip turn

Movement for making a turn: the swimmer curls downward, pivots, then pushes from the wall with the feet.