Sports

Types of Swimming Stroke & Style

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Updated:3/7/2026
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Stroke
Speed Rank
Olympic Distances
Difficulty
Known For
Freestyle (Front Crawl)
#1 (fastest)50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500mIntermediateFastest stroke, alternating arm windmill, flutter kick, face-down breathing rhythm, Phelps and Thorpe
Butterfly
#2100m, 200mVery hardDolphin kick + simultaneous arm recovery, most exhausting stroke, beautiful but brutal, Phelps's specialty
Backstroke
#3100m, 200mIntermediateOnly stroke swum on your back, start in the water, can breathe freely, Ryan Lochte's forte
Breaststroke
#4 (slowest competition stroke)100m, 200mEasy to learn, hard to masterFrog kick, oldest competitive stroke, Adam Peaty dominance, pull-breathe-kick-glide rhythm
Individual Medley (IM)
Varies (all 4 strokes)200m, 400mExpertButterfly → backstroke → breaststroke → freestyle, tests all skills, Michael Phelps's 400m IM dominance
Sidestroke
SlowNot OlympicEasyLifeguard rescue stroke, one arm pulls while towing victim, scissor kick, energy-efficient
Doggy Paddle
Very slowNot competitiveEasiestEveryone's first swimming motion, head above water, instinctive, dogs do it naturally, childhood memories
Elementary Backstroke
SlowNot competitiveEasyRelaxation stroke, 'chicken-airplane-soldier' arm pattern, floating while kicking, learn-to-swim staple
Trudgen (Trudgeon)
ModerateHistorical (1800s)IntermediatePrecursor to modern crawl, John Trudgen learned from South Americans, sidestroke + overarm combo
Combat Side Stroke
ModerateNot competitive (military)AdvancedUS Navy SEALs swim test stroke, low profile in water, efficient long-distance military swimming
Open Water / Marathon Swimming
Varies10kmExtreme enduranceEnglish Channel crossing, no walls to push off, jellyfish, currents, 25+ miles, grease for warmth
Synchronized Swimming Strokes
N/A (artistic)Artistic swimmingExpert+Eggbeater kick, sculling, underwater acrobatics, nose clips, sequined suits, invisible effort
Underwater Swimming (Dolphin Kick)
Very fast (underwater)Used off walls/startsAdvanced'The 5th stroke', undulation like a dolphin, used off every wall, Misty Hyman's 2000 Olympic gold
Survival Float / Dead Man's Float
StationaryNot competitiveEasyFace-down floating to conserve energy, taught in water safety, minimal effort to stay alive in water
Fin Swimming
Fastest (with equipment)Not Olympic (CMAS events)IntermediateMonofin or bi-fins, speeds up to 13 km/h, looks like a mermaid, World Games sport

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