In the winter, the next Olympic Games were held in South Korea, and it was time to think about the new Summer Olympics. In the center of which there will certainly be water disciplines. In addition, the Olympic Aquatics Center will soon appear in Russia, which will become one of the most modern in the world.
Why these water competitions are so attractive is unknown, perhaps because our whole life began with water. Scientific studies have shown that people who play water sports get much more satisfaction from training than people who prefer to sweat in the gym. Exercises in water prevent excessive overstrain and overwork. This allows you to achieve greater efficiency and duration of training, and the satisfaction from such a training is many times greater.
Definition
Water sports is a general definition for a complex of water-based sports competitions. The first water competitions were recorded in the 15th century. They began to invent special types of swimming in ancient Egypt. This helped people in hunting, as well as military affairs. With the development of mankind, water disciplines gained more and more popularity.
What water sports are there?
There are many sports related to water. Among them, it is customary to distinguish competitions:
Competitions come in various sizes:
- local significance
- national
- regional
- international.
They can take place both outdoors, in ponds or pools under the open sky, and under roofs. All water competitions are usually divided into technical (those for which additional equipment is needed) and classic (included in the Olympic program). Classic Olympic water sports include several disciplines. In addition, there are active sports, such as water aerobics, and extreme sports (sports associated with health hazards). The latter include activities such as surfing or diving.
Olympic disciplines
On water disciplines regularly held competitions. Especially for the Universiade in 2013, the Palace of Water Sports was erected in Kazan, in which Russian and foreign athletes continue to train, as well as international competitions.
Swimming
The program of the first Olympic Games of the modern stage, held in Athens in 1896, included swimming.
Swimming is a sports discipline that involves a swimmer covering a distance in the shortest possible time. Compliance with the rules of swimming is monitored by the International Swimming Association (FINA). She sets the rules for athletes and referees. The first swimming world championship was held in 1973.
Swimming is divided into the following types of swimming:
- breaststroke,
- freestyle,
- crawl,
- Ovar Arm
- trenzhen
- fables
- butterfly.
Water polo
Water polo - water sport, which is a team game with the ball. The main task is to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal the greatest number of times. The ancestor of water polo is considered to be American football (rugby). The team consists of six players and one goalkeeper. The game is divided into four periods of eight minutes. This sport is practiced both indoors and outdoors.
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swimming is a performance by swimmers in the pool to the music of the figures. This sport is graceful and sophisticated. No wonder earlier synchronized swimming was called water ballet. Synchronized swimming was included in the Olympic Games program in 1984. Only female teams of two or more participate in the competition.
The program runs to a musical composition selected in advance. The performance itself is called a program.
Triathlon
Triathlon can hardly be called a water sport. The competition program includes swimming, running and cycling.
The standard for Olympic triathlon distances are:
- running - 10 kilometers
- bike race - 40 kilometers,
- swimming - 1,500 meters.
The change of distances takes place in a strict order: swimming, cycling, running. Judges watch the change of equipment and distances by an athlete.
Diving
For this sport, shells such as a tower or a springboard are used. The Olympic program uses towers of five to ten meters, as well as springboards from one to three meters in length. The execution of the jumps, their purity and the correct execution of the elements are monitored by the judges. In addition to individual jumps, there are paired (synchronous) dives.
Water-skiing
The essence of this sport lies in the athlete’s skiing at high speed. The athlete, while moving, holds the cable, which is tightly fastened to the boat, for example, a boat. Skis are divided into monomodels and doubles. It is easy to guess that the inventor of water skiing was inspired by alpine skiing, which he later decided to try out on water.
Canoeing and Kayaking, Rowing Slalom
It is a rowing sport that involves overcoming the distance in the least amount of time by kayaking or canoeing. Both women and men are engaged in rowing. Rowing slalom is distinguished by distance. As a rule, an artificial distance marked by a gate is used, it is possible to pass a route with obstacles, such as water rapids.
In the Novgorod region there is one of the best in its class water sports schools for rowing slalom, and the water rapids on which athletes train are considered unique in the world.
Rowing
In this sport, boats are also used. It differs from canoeing and slalom in that athletes swim the distance, sitting with their backs, without overcoming artificial obstacles. The main task is to overcome the distance in the shortest possible time, ahead of rivals.
Sailing
It is one of the most spectacular competitions of the Summer Olympic Games. Refers to technical sports. Usually, athletes use yachts to travel on water. Therefore, sailing is often called yachting. Presumably originated in the Netherlands, the first records date back to the 16th century. The main goal is to get ahead of the opposing team. This is a pursuit. The distance consists of small segments marked with buoys. The boat should go around the buoys in a certain sequence.
Often you can hear the phrase "chess on the water." This is due to the fact that yachting requires athletes not only physical effort, but also significant mental. It is important to be able to predict the opponent’s moves ahead, make a decision in the conditions of changing wind and currents.
Surfing
Not so long ago it became known that this water sport will be included in the program of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which will be held in 2020. This is due, firstly, to the high level of popularity of sports in Japan, and secondly, to the availability of suitable conditions for competitions.
Competitions of surfers will be included in the program as an experiment, and their further fate remains unknown. It is likely that after 2020 they will disappear from the official program. This is due to the fact that not all countries have the opportunity to conduct these competitions. In addition, skeptics expect that the competition will not be so spectacular because of the changing weather and waves that may be too small, which will not allow athletes to fully demonstrate their skills.
Surfing refers to extreme sports and is a glide on the board on the surface of the waves. Surfing is usually divided into several types. The most popular: surfing, windsurfing (differs in the use of sails for movement).
World Championship
In addition to competitions in certain disciplines, there is also a championship in water sports. FINA in 1973 acted as the ideological inspirer and creator of the games. The program of the championship does not include all Olympic disciplines. The championship includes synchronized swimming, diving, high diving, water polo and swimming.