Men Swimming

Men swimming during the summertime or at a pool during the winter months are a common sight. Male swimmers appear at the Olympic Games, diving into the pool at the start of a race. Male swimmers in Speedos burn up the lanes as they race towards the finish line at a local swim meet. The world is sometimes full of male swimmers trying to make an impression or their mark in the sport.

Men swimmers have always been more common than women swimmers. They were the first to appear in the Olympic Games in 1896. At that time, the winner of two of the three races was Alfred Hajos of Hungary. His time of 1:22:2 in the 100-meter freestyle made him the fastest male swimmer in the world. In these races, swam in the oceans off Athens, no American male swimmer won a medal. In Paris in 1900, more swimming events became a part of the program. Although the United States won 20 gold, 14 silver and nine bronze, the male swim teams of Germany, Hungary and France predominated the events. It was not until 1904 that a man swimming for the United States won a gold medal. That year, in St. Louis, Charles Daniels won two gold medals in swimming. Team USA also won the relay race.

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At the early Olympics, male swim wear did not help any male swim to win. In fact, a men’s swim suit of the period was heavy and cumbersome. They did not have access to or the right to wear anything remotely resembling today’s men’s swimwear. Standardized swimming wear for the period included long-john type outfits completely covering the torso, including the chest. Men’s swim shorts were for the future. It was against the law and moral standards of the time to display too much flesh. In fact, until 1937, a policeman could and did arrest any male displaying his chest. Of course, in France and some European countries, the move towards a more liberal and liberating form of male swimming attire came more quickly than it did in the United States.

Today, men swim in an assortment of swimwear. They parade around in boxer shorts or skimpy bikinis. They strut on beaches, splash in pools or lie in the sun staring at the ocean. They can join swim teams or take an individual approach to the sport. Men can be an Olympian, a world champion or a recreational swimmer. A man can even join a group of male synchronized swimmers. It is up to the individual to choose what type of swimming, if any, they prefer.