User:Bennyyanggg/Medley swimming

Paragraphs copied from Medley Swimming page. I plan to edit this page.

Medley Swimming is a combination of four different swimming styles—backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle—into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley (IM) or by four swimmers as a medley relay.

Individual Medley Technique (added to official page)
The technique for individual medley events does not differ much from the technique for the separate events for the four strokes. The main difference is the turning technique needed when transitioning from one stroke to the next stroke. Each section has to be completed as described by the stroke rules of this section.

The transitions are as follows:


 * Butterfly to Backstroke
 * Backstroke to Breaststroke
 * Breaststroke to Freestyle

When transitioning from Butterfly to Backstroke, swimmers must abide by FINA rules and regulations in regards to turns. They are listed as follows:


 * When transitioning from butterfly to backstroke, swimmers must be on their stomach, and touch the wall with both hands simultaneously, either in, out, or at the surface of the water, then turn in any matter they wish as long as the swimmer's shoulder is vertical or towards the back when they leave the wall. An acceptable turn includes an open turn, which is commonly used.
 * When transitioning from backstroke to breaststroke, swimmers must touch the wall with some part of their body while still on their back. The swimmer's shoulder may be turned vertical to the chest but no more than that when executing a turn. Some acceptable turns are the bucket turn, crossover turn, or an open turn.
 * When transitioning from breaststroke to freestyle, swimmers must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously, similar to butterfly, either in, out, or at the surface of the water before turning. An acceptable turn includes an open turn.

For all the transitions, the swimmer may conduct their underwater phase for up to 15m, where then swimmers will have to resurface and continue swimming with proper technique.

Medley Relay Technique (added to official page)
The technique for medley relay events does not differ much from the technique for the separate events for the four strokes and the basic set of relay rules. The only difference between the Medley Relay and the Individual Medley is the order of the strokes and the number of swimmers. The order for the medley relay is: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.

The main difference is for the second, third, and fourth swimmers on the relay team. The first swimmer swims backstroke normally, but all of the following swimmers must accurately judge the swimmer current swimming's distance, and conduct a relay dive right as the current swimmer touches the wall. There is no start signal for those swimmers. It is very important for the next swimmer off the block to accurately judge the time at which the swimmer in the water will touch the wall. A fast reaction could result in a significantly faster time in the race, but a false start (diving early) will result in a disqualification.

FINA rules require that a foot of the second, third or fourth swimmer must be touching the platform while (and before) the incoming teammate is touching the wall; the starting swimmer may already be in motion, however, which saves 0.6 – 1 second compared to a regular start. Furthermore, many swimmers may perform better in a relay than in an individual race owing to a team spirit atmosphere. As a result, relay times are typically 2–3 second faster than the sum of best times of individual swimmers.

World records (added to official page)
All the listed below world record times have been swam in Long Course Meters (LCM.)

Men Women Mixed


 * A listing of how the World Records have progressed over time can be found here: 100 IM, 200 IM, 400 IM and Medley Relay.

Rules (added to official page)
These are the official rules of the FINA, USA Swimming, and US Masters Swimming regarding medley swimming:


 * In individual medley events, the swimmer covers the four swimming styles in the following order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
 * In medley relay events, swimmers will cover the four swimming styles in the following order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
 * Each section must be finished in accordance with the rule which applies to the style concerned.

Freestyle includes a special regulation for medley events:


 * Freestyle means that in an event so designated the swimmer may swim any style, except that in individual medley or medley relay events, freestyle means any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.

Additionally, the normal rules of relay events apply:


 * Each swimmer should only swim in one leg of the relay
 * The continuing swimmer should not start their leg until the previous swimmer has completed their leg
 * No other team member shall jump into the pool apart from the one swimming the leg
 * The proceeding swimmer's feet should not leave the diving block until the previous swimmer has completed their leg
 * There shall be four swimmers on each relay team.
 * Mixed relay teams must consist of two men and two women. (In any order)

Failure to abide by any of the rules listed above will result in a disqualification if found appropriate by the referee.

History (added to official page)
Prior to 1952, the butterfly was not defined as a separate stroke from the breaststroke, and so medley races featured only three styles: backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. The usual distance of both the IM and the medley relay was thus 300 metres or yards rather than 400. During a 150-meters Individual Medley race, Henry Myers was amongst one of the first to use an overarm recovery while swimming breaststroke, becoming one of the earliest forms of butterfly. In the United States, during the year of 1953, some medley races included the butterfly stroke, and the Amateur Athletic Union made it mandatory from 1954.

From the beginning of the Medley events, swimming times have drastically changed and gotten faster due to science, technology, and improved training. Some technological advancements include technical swimming suits, which are special swimming suits mainly used during competitions to reduce drag in the water, and underwater cameras to analyze a swimmer's stroke.

Prior to 1952, the butterfly was not defined as a separate stroke from the breaststroke, and so medley races featured only three styles: backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. The usual distance of both the IM and the medley relay was thus 300 metres or yards rather than 400. During a 150-meters Individual Medley race, Henry Myers was amongst one of the first to use an overarm recovery while swimming breaststroke, becoming one of the earliest forms of butterfly. In the United States, during the year of 1953, some medley races included the butterfly stroke, and the Amateur Athletic Union made it mandatory from 1954.

Para-Swimmers in the Medley (added to official page)
In 1960, the U.S. Paralympics added swimming as a sport. Para-Swimming is where swimmers with physical disabilities are able to complete with other swimmers with physical disabilities in swimming. While swimming, those swimmers are not allowed to wear any prosthetics, or any assistive devices.

While swimming the Individual Medley, para-swimmers are put into different categories depending on their physical disability. They are listed below:


 * SM1: para swimmers who are highly affected in their arms, legs, and trunk.
 * SM2: para swimmers who are highly affected in their trunk, legs, and hand. Their arms are a little more viable, but are still affected.
 * SM3: para swimmers who have lowly affected arms, but may be missing legs. Their legs and trunk remain barely viable.
 * SM4: para swimmers who have trouble with their hands. They may be missing their hand(s).
 * SM5: para swimmers who have difficulty coordinating in the water. Their legs are highly affected.
 * SM6: para swimmers who have one side of their body heavily affected.
 * SM7: para swimmers who have one side of their body moderately affected, but still have trouble.
 * SM8: para swimmers who have the ability to use one arm, moderately affected legs, or lacks overall muscle power.
 * SM9: para swimmers who have a lot of weakness in one leg.
 * SM10: para swimmers who have little issue(s) with their leg. They have trouble keeping a stroke pattern.

There are also visual ratings:


 * SM11: para swimmers who are almost totally blind.
 * SM12: para swimmers who have a hard time seeing.
 * SM13: para swimmers who are able to see the end of pool at the length of 5 meters.

And finally, there is an intellectual category:


 * SM14: para swimmers who are intellectually challenged. They have difficulty understanding techniques and strategy.