Swimming is full of surprising and fun facts! Here are 10 weird swimmer facts that will make you look at the pool a little differently.
1. Swimmers sweat in the pool
Yes, even though you’re surrounded by water, your body still sweats during a workout. You just don’t notice it because the sweat mixes with the pool water.
2. The front crawl is the fastest stroke
Also known as freestyle, the front crawl is the fastest of all swimming strokes, which is why it’s the go-to stroke for competitive swimmers in freestyle events.
3. Swimming burns more calories than running
An hour of vigorous swimming can burn up to 700+ calories — often more than running for the same amount of time — because water resistance makes your body work harder.
4. Humans are the only animals that swim on their backs
While many animals can swim, humans are one of the only species that can swim on their backs — which is also why the backstroke is uniquely human!
5. Olympic pools hold 660,000 gallons of water
That’s a LOT of water! An Olympic-sized swimming pool holds approximately 660,000 gallons (2.5 million liters) of water.
6. Swimming has been around for thousands of years
Cave drawings from the Stone Age show people swimming, making it one of the oldest physical activities known to humanity.
7. Competitive swimming started in the 1800s
While people have been swimming for millennia, organized competitive swimming didn’t begin until the early 1800s in Europe.
8. Babies have a natural swimming reflex
Infants up to about 6 months old have a “diving reflex” — when submerged, they automatically hold their breath and their heart rate slows. This reflex fades over time.
9. Chlorine doesn’t cause the “pool smell”
That distinctive pool smell isn’t actually chlorine — it’s chloramines, which form when chlorine reacts with sweat, oils, and urine in the water. A well-maintained pool shouldn’t have a strong smell.
10. Swimming uses every major muscle group
Swimming is one of the only exercises that works virtually every major muscle group in the body simultaneously, making it one of the best full-body workouts available.
Now you have some fun facts to share at your next pool party! And if these facts inspire you to get in the water, Little Fins Swim School in Colorado Springs is here to help your family dive in.
