Breaststroke蛙泳

Breaststroke is the slowest of the four official styles in competitive swimming, but it is commonly agreed that it is by far the most difficult to do correctly. The history of breaststroke goes back to the Stone Age. The leg action of the breaststroke may have originated by imitating the swimming action of frogs.

蛙泳是競技游泳的四種標準泳姿中最慢的一種，但它卻是公認最難做得標準的一種。蛙泳的起源可以追溯到石器時代。蛙泳中腿部蹬水的動作很可能是模仿青蛙的泳姿而來。

Freestyle自由泳

Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. Competitors in freestyle swimming can use any of the unregulated strokes such as front crawl, dog paddle, or sidestroke, etc. Most competitive swimmers choose the front crawl during freestyle competitions, as this style provides the greatest speed. As such the term freestyle is often used as a synonym for the front crawl.

根據國際泳聯的規定，“自由泳”其實是各種非標準泳姿的統稱，包括爬泳、狗刨、側泳等等。但是在自由泳比賽中多數選手會選擇爬泳，因為這種泳姿速度相對較快。因此人們常說的“自由泳”基本就成了“爬泳”的同義詞。

Backstroke仰泳

The backstroke has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only competition swimming style that starts in the water. Backstroke is an ancient style of swimming. The first Olympic backstroke competition was the 1900 Paris Olympics men’s 200 metre.

仰泳的優勢在于便于呼吸，缺點則是游泳者不能看到前方的情況。仰泳也是幾種競技泳姿中唯一一種從水中出發的(其他幾種泳姿是從跳臺上出發)。仰泳是一種古老的泳姿。奧運史上第一次仰泳比賽是1900年的巴黎奧運會男子200米仰泳。

Butterfly stroke蝶泳

While other styles like the breaststroke, front crawl, or backstroke can be swum easily even by beginners, the butterfly is a more difficult stroke that requires good technique to be feasible. It is the newest swimming style swum in competition, first swum in 1933. Interestingly, the butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick".