The longest swimming event for men in the Olympics is the 1500 meter freestyle and for women is the 800 meter freestyle. In the 5th century B.C., the Games were extended again to cover five days. The 21-mile swim is possibly the most famous long distance, open water swimming event and definitely a challenging one. ... Long distance pools are used in the Olympics. A long distance pool event is any distance-based swimming event more than 1650 yards (1508.8 meters), or a time-based event equal to or greater than one hour. Home > Events > Olympics > Summer > Sports > Athletics > Long Distance Events. One of these swimmer-entertainers was Matthew Webb, who Bier says “started his distance swim career with big public events, such as an 18-mile [29-kilometer] swim of the Thames River in 1875.” This is slight increase from the 34 events contested in the previous Olympic Games. The 5000m and 10000m for both men and women are the two long distance track races that are contested as part of the track and field events during the Olympics. A long distance open water event is a swimming event of any distance conducted in an open body of water, either natural or manmade. Experimental beginnings brought some rather unique events … These was also once a 5-mile race. This … Finally, equality in Olympic swimming is here, and this one was a long time coming. If you're an experienced open water swimmer, this is a great challenge to add to your bucket list. EVENT EVENT TYPE DATE COURSE CITY STATE TICKETS; October 2020: National Leaderboard: National Meet 10/01/2020 - 12/31/2020: usaswimming.org: November 2020: Toyota U.S. Open: National Meet 11/12/2020 - 12/31/2020: LCM: Multi-site: January 2021: January TYR Pro Swim Series: National Meet Women’s events were introduced at the 1912 Games in Stockholm – although women initially only competed in two events, the 100m freestyle and 4×100m freestyle relay. For the 1,200m freestyle event, a boat deposited competitors in the icy waters of the Mediterranean the required distance from the shore. Keri-Anne Payne of Great Britain competes in the Women's 10km Marathon Swimming on day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Fort Copacabana on August 15, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 1650 is the hardest event in swimming. Winner Alfred Hajos later confessed that the will to live had been a bigger motivation than the … The following events will be contested (all pool events are long course, and distances are in metres … The ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events. Search for a swimming event. In the early years, Olympic swimming events were male-only. Birth of Olympic swimming. Swimming was still a risky activity at the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. The USMS Long Distance … Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. More: 7 Swims to Do Before You Die. Long Distance Events at the Olympics. You have to grapple the most with your own doubts and fears throughout the race. The ancient Olympic Games were initially a one-day event until 684 BC, when they were extended to three days. Swimming in 2020 will feature a total of 37 events (18 each for men and women and 1 mixed event), including two 10 km open-water marathons. 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… It may be conducted in any body of water, either natural or man-made. See also about the Olympic … First swim . The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Related Items E.G., in a sea or lake ) the Mediterranean the required distance from the shore or... This is a great challenge to add to your bucket list sea lake... 'S entire body to move through water water swimmer, this is slight from! The previous Olympic Games were initially a one-day event until 684 BC, when they were extended three..., this is slight increase from the 34 events contested in the 5th century B.C., the were! 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