Olympic Swimming Has Been Ever-Present

Swimming is one of the few sports to appear in every single modern Summer Olympics since 1896. Despite this longevity, women were not permitted to compete in these aquatic events until 1912.

While the sport is now a massive highlight of the games, its early inclusion was quite limited. Today, it ranks only behind track and field in terms of the sheer number of medals available. It is fascinating that for sixteen years, the world's best female swimmers were completely excluded from the global stage. This history reflects the massive evolution in inclusivity within the Olympic movement.