World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA, is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in water sports. It is one of several international federations which administer a given sport or discipline for both the IOC and the international community. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The main competition venue at the most recent edition of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (2023)
Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water. Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with varied distance events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley. In addition to these individual events, four swimmers can take part in either a freestyle or medley relay. A medley relay consists of four swimmers who will each swim a different stroke, ordered as backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Start of the 4 × 100 meters men's relay during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing
Leander swimming across the Hellespont. Detail from a painting by Bernard Picart.
The routes taken by Webb and T.W. Burgess across the English Channel, in 1875 and 1911, respectively.
Katie Ledecky set the Olympic records in 2016 for the 400m and 800m freestyle.
