Swimming

Formerly referred to as “aquatics,” swimming is a popular sport that demands physical endurance, strength, speed, and technique, making it an excellent full-body workout. Special Olympics first introduced swimming as a sport in 1968, and it one of the original sports held at first Games in Chicago! Swimming is also offered as a Unified sport, and over 22,800 athletes and Unified partners train and compete in swimming each year. At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, we plan to offer a variety of swimming events ranging from 25 to 500 yards, including the styles of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and the medley.

How It’s Performed:
Competitive swimming features four primary strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Freestyle, otherwise known as the front crawl, is the fastest and involves alternating arm movements and a flutter kick. Backstroke is performed on the back with an alternating arm motion and flutter kick. Breaststroke requires simultaneous arm movements and a frog-like kick, with swimmers surfacing for breaths. Butterfly is characterized by a powerful dolphin kick and simultaneous arm movements, demanding significant strength and coordination. In a medley, swimmers compete in all four strokes in a set order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, showcasing versatility and endurance. In medley relay, each swimmer swims a different stroke of the medley on their respective leg of the relay. Swimming races are won by the first competitor or team to complete the specified distance in the shortest time, showcasing speed, endurance, and technique.