What is the front crawl also called?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 08, 2026
The front crawl or forward crawl, also known as the Australian crawl or American crawl, is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes.
Is freestyle another name for front crawl?
You may not realise, but the stroke swimmers use in the freestyle event is actually called the 'front crawl'. Freestyle means you can swim with any style you like- the fastest stroke just so happens to be the 'front crawl'.
What swimming stroke is also known as front crawl?
Freestyle is also known as the front crawl. When swimming this stroke, your body will be in a prone position on your stomach and face toward the water. Both your arms and legs will pull you through the water, while your torso remains stable. Your arms will move in an alternating fashion.
Is breaststroke same as front crawl?
Front crawl: Swimming uses all major muscle groups and boosts cardio fitness and endurance. Despite being the fastest, most continuous stroke, crawl is more economical in energy expenditure than breaststroke. Breaststroke: Breaststroke is the slowest competitive stroke, but uses most energy.
What is the meaning of front crawl?
front crawl in British English
(frʌnt krɔːl ) a style of swimming in which the swimmer faces downwards and moves their arms alternately in strokes. Collins English Dictionary.
37 related questions foundWhy is it called freestyle?
Technically, freestyle refers to a style of swimming in which the swimmer has the freedom to choose his or her own stroke (hence the name, freestyle). The International Swimming Federation (FINA) doesn't restrict swimmers to using a particular stroke.
What is an Australian crawl?
Definition of Australian crawl
: a crawl stroke in swimming specifically : a 2-beat crawl.
What are the 6 main types of swimming?
Six Basic Strokes of Swimming
- Dog Paddle. Often the first stroke a young swimmer learns, the dog paddle is very basic, easy to learn and allows you to keep your head above the water for easy breathing. ...
- Backstroke. ...
- Freestyle. ...
- Sidestroke. ...
- Breaststroke. ...
- Butterfly.
What is back crawl?
Definition of 'back crawl'
a. a stroke performed on the back, using backward circular strokes of each arm alternately and flipper movements of the feet.
What are the six main types of swimming?
The different types of swimming styles and strokes mainly include the freestyle stroke, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly stroke, and sidestroke. For competition, the versatility will allow swimmers to compete in multiple events.
What is a backstroke in swimming?
As its name suggests, backstroke is swum on the back. It uses alternating circular arm movements and an above water recovery. The legs execute a flutter kick similar to the one used in freestyle/frontcrawl. Head should be looking behind you.
What are the different parts of the front crawl pull?
The front crawl has three parts: the flutter kick, the rotating arm stroke, and rhythmic breathing.
What is the most widely used stroke in swimming and what is the other name to call it?
Front Crawl (or Freestyle Stroke)
The reason why the front crawl is fast is because one arm is always pulling underwater and able to deliver a powerful propulsion.
What is the difference between freestyle and crawl?
Therefore if a race specifies front crawl you have to swim front crawl, whereas if it says freestyle you can swim any stroke including sidestroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
What is the correct way to swim freestyle?
Stretch your arms straight in front of you like you were diving, and glide as far as you can go. Your legs should be straight and close together. Push your chest down into the water and level out your legs. Your face should be looking straight down the pool and your body posture straight.
What is a front and back crawl in swimming?
The backstroke, or back crawl, uses alternating and opposite arm movements. As one arm pulls through the water from an overhead position to the hip, the other arm recovers above the water from the hip to the overhead position and vice versa. The legs perform a flutter kick, similar to the one used in the front crawl.
What is the difference between backstroke and back crawl?
As nouns the difference between backstroke and backcrawl is that backstroke is a swimming stroke swum lying on one's back, while rotating both arms through the water as to propel the swimmer backwards while backcrawl is backstroke.
What is sculling swimming?
What is Sculling? Sculling is a back-and-forth motion with your hands, like you're drawing a figure eight. Your elbows should stay relaxed, and you should have minimal shoulder movement. Keep your palms slightly oriented in the direction that you would like to travel as you apply pressure to the water.
Which kick is used for both the backstroke and front crawl?
The flutter kick is a simple and efficient kick used in the front crawl/freestyle stroke, but also in the backstroke. Both legs are kept parallel, fairly straight, and quickly flutter up and down with toes pointed.
What are the strokes in swimming?
If you have reached this point then we have collated some tips below to help you learn the four swimming strokes: front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.
Which swim style is best?
Freestyle is the fastest of all the strokes, so as you might expect it is up in second place for calorie burning potential. Swimming freestyle tones your stomach, buttocks and shoulders. Out of all the four strokes freestyle is said to have the greatest impact on toning back muscles.
What are the types of float in swimming?
Different Floating Positions in Swimming
- Horizontal Survival Float. The horizontal survival float is the most energy efficient floating position, and is used when the swimmer anticipates being in open water for an extended time. ...
- Vertical Survival Float. ...
- Back Float. ...
- Treading Water.
Is freestyle the same as Australian crawl?
Australian's credit Alick Wickham with the invention of the front crawl (aka freestyle), but some debate who was the first to use this style of swimming.
What is the old Australian crawl?
The front crawl or forward crawl, also known as the Australian crawl or American crawl, is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes.
Who invented the Aussie crawl?
Charlie Bell demonstrates the double overarm action of the 1890s. A close-up on the leg action indicates the drawing up of the knee and the wide opening of the legs. Arthur Abbie re-creates the stroke developed by schoolboy Alick Wickham, which came to be known as the Australian crawl.