The aquatic sport of swimming involves competition among participants to be the fastest over a given distance under self propulsion. The different events include 25 meter (8&U), 50, 100, 200, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, the 25(8&U), 50, 100, 200, 400, 500, 800, 1000, 1500, and 1650 free and the 100, 200, and 400 individual medley (IM, consisting of all strokes). The order of the individual medley is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. In the 100 IM you swim a 25 (one lap) of each stroke, 200- 50 (2 laps) 400- 100 (4 laps) of each stroke in the IM. Swimming has been part of the modern Olympic Games since inception in 1896. Along with the other aquatic disciplines of diving,synchronised swimming and water polo, the sport is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). (more)