Swimming as a Sport

Task IV. Learn the following words and word-combinations:

1. long-course pool большая вода

2. short-course pool короткая вода

3. lane n дорожка

4. recognize v признавать

5. boundary n граница

6. float n поплавок; v держаться

на поверхности воды, всплывать

7. medley n комплексное плавание

8. medley relay n комбинированная эстафета

9. team relay n командная эстафета

10. regulation n инструкция

11. centre lane центральная дорожка

12. outside lane боковая дорожка

13. starter n стартовый пистолет

14. lane judge судья на дорожке

15. spot v определять

16. record v регистрировать, протоколировать,

записывать

17. electronic timing электронный хронометр

18. turn n поворот

19. lap n этап

20. hit n толчок

21. starting block старт

22. forcibly adv мощно

23. wind-up start n классический старт

24. grab start n греб старт

25. flip turn n поворот с переворотом назад

26. somersault turn n поворот оборотом вперед согнувшись

27. reverse n обратный ход

28. grab n захват

29. tug n рывок

Task V. Read the text about swimming as a sport.

Swimming as a sport

The Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) governs international swimming and other water sports at the amateur level. The FINA consists of national associations from about 100 countries.

Swimming competitions are held in both long-course pools, which measure 50 metres long, and short-course pools, which measure 25 metres long. Long-course pools are divided into 6, 8, or 10 lanes. Short-course pools have 4, 6, or 8 lanes. Each lane measures between 2 and 2.5 metres wide. In most national championship competitions, 8 lanes must be used in both long-and short-course pools. The FINA recognizes world records set only in long-course pools.

Water in a regulation swimming pool must be at least 0.9 metres deep and have a temperature of about 26 °С. Floats called lane lines run the length of the pool. They mark lane boundaries and help keep the surface of the water calm.

Kinds of races

Swimmers participate in five kinds of races-freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and individual medley. In a freestyle race, a swimmer may choose any stroke. But swimmers always use the front crawl because it is the fastest stroke. In the individual medley, athletes swim an equal distance of each of the four strokes.

In national and international competitions, individual freestyle races are held at distances of 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,500 metres. Breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly events are 100 and 200 metres long. The individual medley covers 200 and 400 metres.

Team relays are among the most exciting swimming races. A team consists of four swimmers, each of whom swims an equal distance. Men's and women's teams participate in a 400-metre freestyle relay, a 400-metre medley relay, and an 800-metre freestyle relay. In the medley relay, each member of the team swims a different stroke for 100 metres.

Swimming competitions

Swimming competitions are held at various levels, from local to international. So many swimmers participate in competitive swimming that qualifying times are established for large competitions. Swimmer must at least equal the qualifying times for the races that they hope to enter in order to be allowed to take part in those events.

Large competitions have several officials. The chief official is the referee. The referee supervises the other officials and makes sure that the swimmers follow regulations.

Each swimmer in a race is assigned a lane. The swimmers with the fastest qualifying times get the centre lanes, and the slowest swimmers receive the outside lanes. The race begins at the sound of the starter's gun. During the race, lane judges watch each swimmer's strokes and the turns at the end of the pool. If a judge spots an illegal stroke or turn, the swimmer is disqualified.

In many competitions, an electronic timing and judging-system determines the order of finish and each swimmer's time to 1/1,000 of a second. The system begins automatically at the starter's signal. It records the time for each swimmer as the swimmer's hand touches a plate attached to the end of the pool.