Open water swimming

In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the swimming competition was held in open water.

Events such as the Midmar Mile in South Africa (attributed to Wayne Ridden), the Great Swim in the UK (whose idea is attributed to Colin Hill), and the Batley race have helped create and grow interest and participation in the sport.

Though most open water races do not require a specific stroke, most competitors employ the front crawl, also known as freestyle.

The efficiency of this stroke was demonstrated by Gertrude Ederle, who, as the first woman to swim the English Channel, employed it to beat the existing world record by more than 2 hours.

When covering large distances, swimmers may head off course due to current, waves, wind, and poor visibility.

Drafting, which is prohibited by some race regulations, is the technique of following another swimmer so closely that water resistance is reduced.

In addition, a proper kicking technique will bring the legs all the way to the surface, creating a more streamlined profile for the arms to pull through the water.

Some triathlon wetsuits have varied thickness by way of panels that provide custom flotation that aids the wearer in keeping an efficient position in the water.