Editing Swimming (section)

===Sport===
{{Main article|Swimming (sport)}}
[[File:Depart4x100.jpg|thumb|Start of the 4 × 100&nbsp;meters men's relay during the [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]]]]
Swimming as a sport predominantly involves participants competing to be the fastest over a given distance in a certain period of time.  Competitors swim different distances in different levels of competition. For example, swimming has been an [[Olympic Swimming|Olympic sport]] since 1896, and the current program includes events from 50 m to 1500 m in length, across all four main strokes and medley.  During the season competitive swimmers typically train multiple times per day and week to increase endurance, strength, and preserve fitness. Furthermore when the cycle of work is completed swimmers go through a stage called taper where intensity is reduced in preparation for competition season. During taper, focus is on power and water feel.

The sport is governed internationally by [[World Aquatics]], formerly known as FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) before it adopted its current name in December 2022. World Aquatics recognizes competitions of the 25 meter and 50 meter pools for International Competitions. In the United States, a pool of 25 yards in length is commonly used for competition, especially in the College Level. 

Other swimming and water-related sporting disciplines include [[open water swimming]], [[Diving (sport)|diving]], [[synchronized swimming]], [[water polo]], [[triathlon]], and the [[modern pentathlon]].