Long Course Swimming:

What is long course? Long course is the term used in swimming to describe the competition course measuring 50 meters. The pools that we swim in everyday measure either 25 yards (CSM and Dahlgren) or 25 meters (Summer League Pools such as Banister and Smallwood) a long course pool would be twice as long. In other words a 50 free race would be just one length across the pool. And a 100 would be 2 lengths.

Long course swimming is real swimming in my opinion. Real swimming to me is measured between the flags… you know where the lane line colors keep changing. In short course the area between the flags measure 15 yards. Not much space to really get your swimming going. In long course it measures 40 meters. Almost three times the open water to chase down your opponent. Most good swimmers get about 5 yards off a wall and 8-10 yards off a dive. That means in a 200 yard race in short course they swim for 155 yards and push-off and dive for 45 yards. Meanwhile in long course in the same race they would swim for 178 meters and push-off or dive for 22 meters. That is why I love long course because it is REAL swimming, not who can jump the highest. That is why they swim the Olympics in long course because the gold medal is awarded for fastest swimmer.