What is a medley in swiming?

Answer 1

A medley event is one that requires the swimmer to swim all four competitive stroke categories in one race. The four stroke categories are butterfly, backstroke, breaskstroke and freestyle. Freestyle is actually not a stroke but, rather, unspecified category allowing the swimmer can choose any stroke s/he wishes. Almost all competitive swimmers swim crawl in the freestyle portion of medley events and also in freestyle individual events due to the fact that crawl is, by far, the fastest stroke.

In international competitions there are three to four medley events: 2 individual events and 1 to 2 relay events. The invididual events are the 200 Individual Medley (aka 200IM) and the 400 Individual Medley (aka 400 IM). The relay event is the 400 Medley Relay. In short course meets (aka meets taking place in 25 meter or 25 yard pools), there is also a 200 Medley Relay. However, this event does not appear in long course (50 meter pool) meets such as the Olympic Games. Additionally, there is sometimes a 100 Medley Relays offered for younger swimmers (e.g. 12 and under) in short course local meets.

In Individual Medley events, the order of the strokes in (1) butterfly, (2) backstroke, (3) breastroke and (4) freestyle. In Medley Relay events, the order is (1) backstroke), (2) breastroke, (3) butterfly and (4) freestyle. The order is different for relays primarily because backstrokers start their leg of the relay in the water, as opposed to on the blocks. And it is too difficult to have and incoming swimmer touch the wall when a backstroker is waiting in the water. Thus, in Medley Relays, backstrokers go first.

Answer 2

i have no clue

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