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Freestyle (front crawl) Alternating overhand arm strokes with a flutter kick sports-swimming-terms
Backstroke Swimming on your back with alternating arm strokes sports-swimming-terms
Breaststroke Arms pull in a circle and legs make a frog kick sports-swimming-terms
Butterfly Both arms swing together over the water with a dolphin kick sports-swimming-terms
Individual medley (IM) One swimmer swims all four strokes in order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle sports-swimming-terms
Medley relay order Backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle sports-swimming-terms
Sidestroke Swimming on your side with a scissor kick sports-swimming-terms
Dog paddle A simple beginner stroke with arms paddling under the chin sports-swimming-terms
Flutter kick Small fast up-and-down kicks with straight legs sports-swimming-terms
Frog kick Legs bend and snap together like a frog sports-swimming-terms
Dolphin kick Both legs move together in a wave sports-swimming-terms
Scissor kick Legs open and close like scissors sports-swimming-terms
Treading water Staying afloat in place sports-swimming-terms
Floating Resting on the surface of the water sports-swimming-terms
Back float Floating face up sports-swimming-terms
Bobbing Moving up and down in the water while breathing sports-swimming-terms
Blowing bubbles Breathing out underwater sports-swimming-terms
Rhythmic breathing Turning your head to the side to breathe in a pattern sports-swimming-terms
Stroke count The number of strokes to swim a lap sports-swimming-terms
Lap One length of the pool sports-swimming-terms
Length One trip from one end to the other sports-swimming-terms
Starting block The platform swimmers dive from sports-swimming-terms
Dive Entering the water headfirst from the block sports-swimming-terms
Flip turn A somersault at the wall to turn around sports-swimming-terms
Open turn A turn where you touch the wall with a hand and push off sports-swimming-terms
Streamline A tight body position with arms stretched above the head sports-swimming-terms
Lane A section of the pool for one swimmer sports-swimming-terms
Lane line The floating rope between lanes sports-swimming-terms
Kickboard A float used for kick practice sports-swimming-terms
Pull buoy A float held between the legs to practice arms sports-swimming-terms
Goggles Eye protection for swimming sports-swimming-terms
Swim cap A cap that keeps hair out of the face and reduces drag sports-swimming-terms
Fins Flippers that help swimmers kick faster sports-swimming-terms
Life jacket A floating vest that helps keep people afloat sports-swimming-terms
Lifeguard Trained person who watches for danger in the water sports-swimming-terms
Deep end The deeper part of the pool sports-swimming-terms
Shallow end The shallow part of the pool sports-swimming-terms
Olympic pool length 50 meters sports-swimming-terms
Short course pool 25 yards or 25 meters sports-swimming-terms
Disqualification (DQ) Being removed from a race for breaking a rule sports-swimming-terms
False start Leaving the block before the start signal sports-swimming-terms
Touch the wall Required to finish a race sports-swimming-terms
Relay A team race where each swimmer swims a leg sports-swimming-terms
Heats Preliminary races to decide who advances sports-swimming-terms
Personal best (PB) Your fastest time in an event sports-swimming-terms
Split A time for part of a race sports-swimming-terms
Taper Reduced training before a big meet sports-swimming-terms
Warm-up Easy swimming before racing sports-swimming-terms
Cool-down Easy swimming after racing sports-swimming-terms
Swim meet A competition between swim teams sports-swimming-terms
Michael Phelps American swimmer with 23 Olympic gold medals sports-swimming-terms
Katie Ledecky American distance swimmer with many Olympic golds and world records sports-swimming-terms
Simone Manuel American sprinter who won Olympic gold in 2016 sports-swimming-terms
Water safety rule Never swim alone sports-swimming-terms
Reach, throw, don't go Rescue idea: reach with something or throw a float sports-swimming-terms
Water wings Inflatable arm bands that are not a substitute for a life jacket sports-swimming-terms
Sinking vs floating Body fat and air in the lungs help you float sports-swimming-terms
Chlorine A chemical used to keep pool water clean sports-swimming-terms
Showering before swimming Keeps the pool cleaner sports-swimming-terms
Cramps If you get one, stop and rest sports-swimming-terms
Wait after eating A short rest is fine; there's no strict 30-minute rule sports-swimming-terms
Sunscreen at the pool Apply before swimming and reapply sports-swimming-terms
Diving rule Check the depth before diving and never dive in shallow water sports-swimming-terms