Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics
The in the French capital Paris as part of the World's Fair ( Exposition Universelle et Internationale de Paris) discharged International competitions for Physical Education and Sport ( Concours Internationaux d' Exercices Physiques et de Sports ) included competitions in swimming, which are part of the Olympic Summer Games 1900 ( Games of the II Olympiad ) were.
Swimming at that time was not just a sport for amateurs, particularly in long -distance swimming, favored by the strong interest on the canal swimming, professional scene had developed. Therefore, there was also a competition in Paris in the 4000 -meter freestyle swimming for professionals, which is not seen after the launch of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, and in accordance with the IOC as Olympic.
The IOC assigns 7 competitions in swimming to the Olympic program of the Games of the II Olympiad. This is followed by 76 athletes participated from twelve nations. The swimming events took place between the 11th and 19th of August in the open water in a flood basin of the Seine at Asnieres -sur -Seine instead.
The swimming competitions seem a little strange from today's perspective, because four of the seven competitions it was disciplines that were held only at the Games in Paris. These include the underwater swimming, obstacle swimming and the swimming team. Also the swimming over 4000 meters was never taken up again in a Olympic program, but a long-distance swimming in 2008 was the first time played, but the distance is ten miles many times longer.
200 - meter freestyle
Date: August 11th and 12th
The participants were 26 swimmers from nine nations. From five heats, the respective winner and five other best swimmer of all heats qualified. The final was contested but only nine swimmers since Otto Wahle renounced a start. The 200 meters were swum continuously without turning downstream, which led to quite remarkable times.
1000 meter freestyle
Date: August 11th and 12th
The participants were 16 swimmers from six nations. From four heats, the respective winner and six other best swimmer of all heats qualified. The 1000 meters were swum continuously without turning downstream, which led to quite remarkable times.
4000 - meter freestyle
Date: 15 and 19 August
The participants were 29 swimmers from seven nations. For three heats, the respective winner and six other best swimmer of all heats qualified. The 4000 meters of continuous swim without turning downstream.
200 - meter backstroke
Date: August 11th and 12th
The participants were 16 swimmers from seven nations. For three heats, the respective winner and seven other best swimmer of all heats qualified.
The 200 - meter backstroke did not start out of the water, but with a jump, so you had to turn the water on his back. The line was consistently swum without turning downstream.
200 m team
Date: 12:08.
It was attended by only four teams, three of them from France. The British team was not reported at the start.
When swimming team focused on achieving the lowest possible place digit. Each team had to report five swimmers. In five races each lead a swimmer started each team. The place numbers were determined only in the final race, while the place number was assigned 1-5 in the first final race (1 for first place, 2 for second, etc.), began here with the winners of the lead race, in the second final race of the place number 6 to 10 (6 for first place, 7 for second place, etc.), here did not start on their second lead of the race, etc. Did a swimmer that he was automatically the place number for the last place (20). The team with the lowest place number was the winner.
After this complicated mode was basically after the race lead the German team as the overall winner determined, because they had represented by the good results achieved there in the first final race three in the second race and another swimmer. The fifth swimmer, Herbert von Peter Dorff, could therefore reassured waived a start, although for the place number 20 was assigned to him. The fifth swimmer in the third-placed French team, Houben, not joined to, and received the 20th
200 m obstacle
Date: 11:08. and 12:08.
The participants were 12 swimmers from 5 nations. From 3 heats the respective first and second as well as 4 other best swimmer of all heats qualified. This meant that only had to give up two swimmers.
The swimmers had to climb over and dive under a boat across a rod and a boat.
Underwater Swimming
Date: 12:08.
The participants were 14 swimmers from 4 nations, all of which were admitted to the final. There was a score, which also counted in addition to the distance traveled, the time under water. For every meter, there were two points for each second another point. The different tactics can be clearly seen in the third-place Lykkeberg. He could stay considerably longer under water, but with the need for power and concentration he could travel significantly less meters.
19 swimmers (14 French, three German and two British ) were also members of various teams that participated in the competition in water polo. Six other swimmers (2 Frenchmen and Britons 4 ) were also in the squad of these teams, but it is uncertain whether these there were also used. Thus, the Frenchman Louis Martin and Désiré Merchez and Briton Peter Kemp the only ones that could be officially medalist in both competitions.