Backstroke

From Openwaterpedia
James Christie swimming backstroke in the 2015 Tampa Bay Frogman Swim, completing the 5 km swim in 1:31

noun - Backstroke is one of the four competitive swimming styles regulated by FINA and is used by open water swimmers on occasion. It is the only regulated swimming style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. In the individual medley, backstroke is the second style swum; in the team medley it is the first style swum.

Open Water Swimming Rules

The rules of swimming backstroke in the open water were first proposed in 2013 by Steven Munatones of the World Open Water Swimming Association (see link below).

Backstroke in the Open Water

Individuals have swum the English Channel, Catalina Channel, Rottnest Channel, Strait of Messina and several other waterways entirely backstroke.

Other swimming strokes commonly used

butterfly, breaststroke, freestyle

Famous Open Water Backstrokers

Tina Neill (USA), Hamish Osborne (Australia), James Christie (USA), Giovanni Arrabito (Italy), Ettore Mercuri (Italy)

External links