COMPETITION

Regional and National Championships

British Colleges Sport runs Swimming events at our National Championships for our full member Colleges. Regional teams will be a maximum of 8 males and 8 females (16 in total) where students may swim in two individual events, but with no limit on participation in relays.

The Swimming events include:

• Men's and Women's 200m Individual Medley
• Men's and Women's 50m Freestyle
• Men's and Women's  50m Breaststroke
• Men's and Women's  50m Butterfly
• Men's and Women's  50m Backstroke
• Men's and Women's 200m Individual Freestyle
• Men's and Women's  100m Backstroke
• Men's and Women's  100m Breaststroke
• Men's and Women's  100m Butterfly
• Men's and Women's  100m Freestyle
• Men's and Women's 4 x 50m Medley Relays
• Men's and Women's 4 x 50m Freestyle Relays

FE Colleges have the opportunity to represent their region in the National Championships run by British Colleges Sport.  Please visit:  http://champs.bcsport.org - our micro site which covers all things in relation to our Regional and National championships events.

THE ORIGINS OF SWIMMING

The English are considered the first modern society to develop swimming as a sport.  By 1847 regular swimming competitions were being held in London's six artificial pools, organized by the National Swimming Society in England. 

As the sport grew in popularity, more pools were built and when the Amateur Swimming Association was formed in 1880, it involved over 300 clubs.

In 1896 swimming became an Olympic sport for men with the 100m and 1500m freestyle competitions held in open water. As the sport gained popularity, more freestyle events were added, followed by the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley.

For further information visit the FINA website.