The first country to organize swimming competitions

The first country to organize swimming competitions was England.

Swimming was active in many parts of Britain in the 1760s, and the first indoor swimming pool was built at George's Wharf, Liverpool, in 1828. In 1837, the first swimming organization was established in London, England, and the earliest swimming competitions were held in Britain.

In the early twentieth century, swimming competitions became popular around the world, and on June 16, 1894, when the International Olympic Committee was established in Paris, swimming was listed as one of the events of the 1896 Olympic Games. 1908, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) was established. On the competitive side, the traditional powers of world swimming include the United States, Australia, Germany, and Hungary.

Olympic Swimming Qualifications

Competitive swimming at the Olympics is determined by FINA. Qualification is divided into two criteria, A and B. If a national (or regional) association competes in each event, those competitors need only meet the B standard.

But if two competitors race in the same individual event, they must meet the A standard, and the entry is only valid if they meet the standard in a FINA-sanctioned competition.

In each individual event, National or Regional Olympic Committees or Associations may send a maximum of two athletes who have achieved an Olympic A standard result; if they have achieved an Olympic B standard, they may send only one athlete.

In each relay event, each National or Regional Olympic Committee or Association may send only one team. When a National or Regional Olympic Committee or Association does not have an athlete who has reached the Olympic standard, it may send one male and one female athlete.