Swimming has risen from the status of a mere recreation or exercise to the grade of a sport. Swimming when conducted as a sport is intended at finding the winner who reaches the first position in swimming over a given distance in a specific time. It was in the 19th century that swimming rose to the level of a competition. It is an event of high popularity in Olympics. Male and female participants compete in the various events coming under swimming. The competition is usually taking place in a 50 meter pool. There is an international body governing the swimming competitions. The usual number of competitive events under swimming is 34.