Butterfly stroke

[4] The butterfly stroke boasts a higher peak velocity than the front crawl, owing to the synchronous propulsion generated by the simultaneous pull/push of both arms and legs.

However, due to the pronounced drop in speed during the recovery phase, it is marginally slower than the front crawl, especially over extended distances.

Furthermore, the butterfly stroke demands a different level of physical exertion, contributing to its slower overall pace than the front crawl.

The earliest mention of the butterfly kick can be attributed to George Corsan, who, according to the International Swimming Hall of Fame introduced it by demonstration to David Armbruster in 1911.

Armbruster was reminded of the time in 1911 when George Corsan had previously demonstrated it to him, and noticed the speed that Sieg was able to achieve.

[8] Armbruster began to experiment with Sieg on using the butterfly kick in breaststroke and had excellent results.

[9] Unfortunately for Armbruster, this would not come to fruition, as in a FINA meeting in October 1938, the bureau unanimously agreed to prohibit up-and-down movements of the legs in the vertical plane.

[10] Prior to 1935, the breaststroke rules from both FINA and the NCAA stated that the arms had to be simultaneously pushed forward on recovery.

[11] The International Swimming Hall of Fame credits Sydney Cavill with creating the overarm recovery,[12] but it is also possible that Erich Rademacher independently discovered it in 1927 Germany.

[15] In 1935, presumably for the removal of ambiguity, the NCAA changed the rule regarding the breaststroke recovery to use the word "moved", rather than "pushed".

[8] The next notable swimmer to further innovate on the butterfly arms was Henry Myers, who in early December 1933 used the flying fish for the whole of the breaststroke leg of a three-stroke medley head, winning against Wallace Spence in spectacular fashion.

Though the officials did not disqualify him, the Brooklyn Central YMCA's magazine wrote a "vitriolic article" that made disparaging remarks about "the sportsmanship of young Myers who observed the letter but not the spirit of the breaststroke rules".

[18] As the overarm recovery caught on more, a swimmer called John Herbert Higgins, in February 1936 at the 1936 National AAU Indoor Swimming Championships swam a time of 1:10.8 for the 100 metre breaststroke event, and became the first swimmer to set a world record using exclusively the flying fish.

However, since alterations to the technical rules required a two-thirds majority before adoption, the motion was declared not carried".

[23] However, the IOC president Sigfrid Edstrom decided not to add any events to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, due to the chaotic situation after World War II.

The wave-like body movement is also very significant in creating propulsion, as this is the key to easy synchronous over-water recovery and breathing.

The push propels the palm backwards through the water, starting beneath and ending at the side of the body.

It is important not to enter the water too early because this would generate extra resistance as the arms move forward against the swimming direction.

A high elbow recovery, akin to that observed in the front crawl, would prove detrimental to the efficiency of the butterfly stroke due to the resultant undulations and the diminution of momentum generated by the triceps extension.

A wider entry loses movement in the next pull phase, and if the hands touch, it will waste energy.

[29] While competitive rules allow such a choice, the typical method of swimming butterfly is with two kicks.

The body naturally rises toward the water's surface as the hands and forearms move underneath the chest.

The proper utilization of the core muscles, in conjunction with precise timing and fluid body movement, greatly facilitates the execution of the butterfly stroke.

The body moves in a wave-like fashion, controlled by the core, and as the chest is pressed down, the hips go up, and the posterior breaks the water surface and transfers into a fluid kick.

[3] Both hands must simultaneously touch the wall during turns and finish while the swimmer remains swimming face down.

While pulling, arms and legs are relaxed, and both knees and waist are slightly bent to prepare the dolphin kick.

In this style, the turning point from drowning to floating [clarification needed] is at the time of downward arm motion.

While rising arms, bend both knees and waist to send the body back to the surface and prepare a dolphin kick.

SW 8.4 At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface.

SW 8.5 At the start and at turns, a swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks and one arm pull under the water, which must bring him to the surface.