What is heats in swimming?

Answer 1

A heat in swimming is like a group of swimmers swimming the same event. Since only a certain number of swimmers can swim at a time (depending on the number of lanes, usually 8) they have to have swim at different times and usually they place heats on how fast they swim. So, if you have the fastest time going into the race then you'd be in the last heat and if you have the slowest time going into the race then you'd be in the first heat. Also they place you in lanes from slowest to fastest (if you have the fastest time you go in the 4th lane and slowest goes in the outer lanes). Hope this helps.

Source: Many years of competitive swimming

Answer 2

It is the group of people swimming at the same time. There are usually multiple heats per an event.