Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other
liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion
is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to
achieve hydrodynamic thrust that results in directional motion. Humans
can hold their breath underwater and undertake rudimentary locomotive
swimming within weeks of birth, as a survival response. Swimming is
consistently among the top public recreational activities, and in some
countries, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the educational
curriculum. As a formalized sport, swimming is featured in a range of
local, national, and international competitions, including every modern
Summer Olympics. Swimming involves repeated motions known as strokes in
order to propel the body forward. While the front crawl, also known as
freestyle, is widely regarded as the fastest out of four primary
strokes, other strokes are practiced for special purposes, such as for
training.
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