Swimming: Sport or Exercise?
There is no better way to stay in shape over the Summer than going to the local pool, but is swimming worthy of being an Olympic sport?
Sport
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Exercise
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Not really sure what the distinction here is supposed to be but I've had the argument that swimming isn't a real sport enough that I think that I get the jist of what the debate creator is trying to get at. Anyone whose ever swam competitively would be outraged to hear swimming described as anything but a sport. Swimming is a sport that exercises nearly every muscle in the human body and requires a great deal of endurance and persistence. Don't be deceived, swimming is much, much harder than it looks. That doesn't mean that a leisurely lap swim isn't a great way to cool off too. Besides if ping-pong is Olympic worthy swimming sure as hell is. Side: sport
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Well I believe it is a sport in the sense that swimmers race each other over set distances. According to wikipedia, a sport "is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively." Swimming has a set of rules and is often competitive. That being said, I think every sport is also a form of exercise, therefore swimming is also exercise. Side: Both
Swimming is a sport, not an exercise. Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill. Swimming could be an exercise sometimes, but most of the people swim with effort to swim much better than the first time. So, we could say that swimming is a sport. Side: sport
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Well, I see what you're getting at. It's a sport in that it's competitive, but I have a problem with a few "sports" namely golf, ping pong (as shown above), bowling, and shuffle board. There's more, but a lot of things can be "competitive" and not be a sport. Like I "compete" at trivial pursuit with the relatives that live in Vegas a couple times a month... but is it a sport? Hell no. Neither is golf goddamnit, it's a hobby. And bowling, don't even get me started, it's like a beer gut is a pre-requisite, and anything you can do better drunk should automatically be disqualified. I think swimming, along with any track and field event, qualifies as a sport though, because there is a level of competitiveness, coupled with some kind of mental and physical dominance. I like sports though that incorporate multiple aspects of physical and mental astuteness. Which is why the best athletes play basketball and soccer. You need to be an athlete in nearly every way for those sports, and you need to have mental toughness on top of that. Side: sport
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Swimming is a sport guys come on. it involves every single muscle in the body and it requires little oxygen and breathing. We have to have two practices everyday that total a whole 3 and a half hours of practice and the coaches are tough! they yell at us and spray us with the freezing cold hose and we don't get any breaks. there are no substitutions and there are a lot of complicated rules in a race. so in my opinion it's alot more technical than most sports. not to mention those swimsuits and caps and goggle flatter nobody! :P jk but the official definition of "sport" is this: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. swimming is a team sport in which you train as a team, but compete individually and win as a team. if it isn't a sport why is it in the Olympics? Side: Sport
Thanks pal!!! nothing drives me more crazy than people telling me it's not a sport! i had some friends that play football and wrestle who said the same thing so i made a deal that i'd try football for a week and they'd try swimming for a week and they didn't even show up the second day! Side: Sport
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Well, I was on the swim team for the city and for school for many years. I can tell you it is great exercise and hard work. It is also very competitive. I was never in it for the sport really, I just wanted the good exercise. But that's just me. If track can be an Olympic sport, why can't swimming be? Edit: I should have put this on the other side, oh well. Side: Both
Hey! I was on the swim team too! See, we've got some things in common. It is a sport. But for the most part I see swimming as an exercise. Mainly because so little time spent swimming is actually competition. You mostly swim for months, and compete only for a few days or so. Also it's great sport for those who are rehabilitating injuries or need low impact exercise. Side: Exercise
Uh, swimming totally falls in the exercise category if you ask me. I suppose it CAN be a sport if you're racing, but 'eh. In my opinion, a sport, 'usually' involves a ball of some sort. But now that I"m going over all the sports in my head... does that mean surfing is an exercise? But 'eh, I did say "usually." :-) Side: Exercise
i have to disagree with that random stranger i have never met! Swimming is totally a sport! the actual term for sport is this: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. In swimming, we practice as a team, compete individually, and win together. If it isn't a sport, then why is it in the Olympics? Not to mention it is one of the hardest sports out there. that may be my opinion, but swimming has two practices a day if you are on a team. It involves every single muscle in your body as well as not being able to breathe. You win medals and compete with other schools AND it is in the sports department in most high schools. in football or baseball you just run short distances for short periods of time, but in an average practice we swim 14 miles. don't get me wrong i enjoy watching baseball and football, but no one id going around saying they're not sports. so if it isn't a sport what is it??? Side: Sport
then why is it a co-ed sport? football is a bunch of guys in tights dancing around like a bunch of pansies. swimming is one of the most competitive sports. you might call it gay but we just know how to have fun and we don't care what people think. yeah we're weird but normal is overrated. Side: Exercise
swimming actually CAN save your life. that is if you know how to do it and i'm sure you've never swam a day in your life! and GO watch the Olympics! have you even heard of Michael Phelps? He is a seven time Gold medalist. I bet you can't move your arms back and forth, and at least you can SWIM in a bath tub! Swimming uses every muscle in your body. Side: Sport
Uh, swimming totally falls in the exercise category if you ask me. I suppose it CAN be a sport if you're racing, but 'eh. In my opinion, a sport, 'usually' involves a ball of some sort. But now that I"m going over all the sports in my head... does that mean surfing is an exercise? But 'eh, I did say "usually." :-) Side: Exercise
at least you can swim in a bathtub! and i don't doubt the fact that you work your butts off at football but i'm not sitting here saying it's not a sport. the average football practice consists of 4-6 miles, and swimming consists of 12-15 miles. swimmers have better lungs so i have plenty of breath and could go on all day on this subject :) Side: Exercise
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