Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

The '''front crawl''' has been in use since [[ancient]] times. In the [[Western world]], the front crawl was first seen in a swimming race held in 1844 in London, where it was swum by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States Native North Americans], who easily defeated all the British breaststroke swimmers. However, the English [[gentlemen]] considered this style, with its considerable splashing, to be [[barbarically]] "un-European". The British continued to swim only the breaststroke in [[competition]].

The '''front crawl''' has been in use since [[ancient]] times. In the [[Western world]], the front crawl was first seen in a swimming race held in 1844 in London, where it was swum by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States Native North Americans], who easily defeated all the British breaststroke swimmers. However, the English [[gentlemen]] considered this style, with its considerable splashing, to be [[barbarically]] "un-European". The British continued to swim only the breaststroke in [[competition]].

Sometime between 1870 and 1890, John Arthur Trudgen learned the front crawl from native South Americans during a trip to Argentina (the exact date is disputed, but is most often given as 1873). However, Trudgen mistakenly used (in Great Britain) the more common sidestroke (scissor) kick instead of the flutter kick used by the Native Americans. This [[hybrid]] stroke was called the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trudgen Trudgen] stroke. Because of its [[speed]], this stroke quickly became [[popular]].

Sometime between 1870 and 1890, John Arthur Trudgen learned the front crawl from native South Americans during a trip to Argentina (the exact date is disputed, but is most often given as 1873). However, Trudgen mistakenly used (in Great Britain) the more common sidestroke (scissor) kick instead of the flutter kick used by the Native Americans. This [[hybrid]] stroke was called the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trudgen Trudgen] stroke. Because of its [[speed]], this stroke quickly became [[popular]].

Trudgen's style was improved by the Australian champion swimmer, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavill_family_(swimming) Richmond "Dick" Cavill] (1884–1938), the son of the swimming instructor, "Professor" Richard "Frederick" Cavill. While Richmond and his brother "Tums" developed the stroke, they were later [[inspired]] by Alick Wickham, a young [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Islands Solomon Islander] who was living in Sydney. He swam a version of the crawl stroke that was popular in his home island at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Georgia Roviana] lagoon. They modified their swimming stroke using this as [[inspiration]] and this modified Trudgen stroke became known as the "''Australian crawl''".

Trudgen's style was improved by the Australian champion swimmer, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavill_family_(swimming) Richmond "Dick" Cavill] (1884–1938), the son of the swimming instructor, "Professor" Richard "Frederick" Cavill. While Richmond and his brother "Tums" developed the stroke, they were later [[inspired]] by Alick Wickham, a young [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Islands Solomon Islander] who was living in Sydney. He swam a version of the crawl stroke that was popular in his home island at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Georgia Roviana] lagoon. They modified their swimming stroke using this as [[inspiration]] and this modified Trudgen stroke became known as the "''Australian crawl''".

The American swimmer [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Daniels_(swimmer) Charles Daniels] made modifications to a six-beat kick, thereby creating the "''American crawl''". With minor modifications, this stroke is the front crawl that is used today.

The American swimmer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Daniels_(swimmer) Charles Daniels] made modifications to a six-beat kick, thereby creating the "''American crawl''". With minor modifications, this stroke is the front crawl that is used today.

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1934 1934]  

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1934 1934]  

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1: ''Freestyle'': a [[competition]] in which the contestant is given more latitude than in related [[events]]; especially : swimming competition in which the swimmer may use any stroke  

*1: ''Freestyle'': a [[competition]] in which the contestant is given more latitude than in related [[events]]; especially : swimming competition in which the swimmer may use any stroke  

==Description==

==Description==

The '' front crawl''' or forward crawl is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_swimming swimming] stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly [[universally]] used during a ''freestyle'' swimming [[competition]], hence freestyle is used [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonym metonymically] for the front crawl. It is one of two long axis strokes, the other one being the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstroke backstroke]. Unlike the backstroke, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_stroke butterfly stroke], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaststroke breaststroke], the front crawl is not regulated by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FINA FINA]. This style is sometimes referred to as the ''Australian crawl'' or the ''American crawl'', although these can refer to more specific variants of front crawl.

The '' front crawl''' or forward crawl is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_swimming swimming] stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly [[universally]] used during a ''freestyle'' swimming [[competition]], hence freestyle is used [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonym metonymically] for the front crawl. It is one of two long axis strokes, the other one being the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstroke backstroke]. Unlike the backstroke, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_stroke butterfly stroke], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaststroke breaststroke], the front crawl is not regulated by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FINA FINA]. This style is sometimes referred to as the ''Australian crawl'' or the ''American crawl'', although these can refer to more specific variants of front crawl.

The face-down swimming [[position]] allows for a good range of [[motion]] of the arm in the water, as compared to the backstroke, where the hands cannot be moved easily along the back of the spine. The above-water recovery of the stroke reduces drag, [[compared]] to the underwater recovery of breaststroke. The alternating arms also allows some rolling movement of the [[body]] for an easier recovery compared to, for example, butterfly. Finally, the alternating arm stroke makes for a relatively constant [[speed]] throughout the [[cycle]].

The face-down swimming [[position]] allows for a good range of [[motion]] of the arm in the water, as compared to the backstroke, where the hands cannot be moved easily along the back of the spine. The above-water recovery of the stroke reduces drag, [[compared]] to the underwater recovery of breaststroke. The alternating arms also allows some rolling movement of the [[body]] for an easier recovery compared to, for example, butterfly. Finally, the alternating arm stroke makes for a relatively constant [[speed]] throughout the [[cycle]].