Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's underwater swimming

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Le bassin d'Asnières, pour les compétitions de natation lors des Jeux Olympiques de 1900

Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics – Men's underwater swimming was a unique and historic event that took place during the 1900 Summer Olympics. Held in Paris, France, this competition marked the first and only appearance of underwater swimming in the Olympic Games. The event tested not only the swimmers' ability to cover distance underwater but also their capacity to hold their breath, with points awarded for both time and distance.

Event Overview

The men's underwater swimming event was conducted in the River Seine, offering a challenging environment for the competitors due to its current and water quality. Participants were required to remain submerged for as long as possible, using no breathing apparatus. The competition format was straightforward: swimmers gained two points for every second they stayed underwater and one point for every meter they traveled. This scoring system placed a premium on both endurance and technique, as athletes had to balance the need for speed with the necessity of conserving oxygen.

Results

The gold medal was won by Charles Devendeville of France, who managed to stay underwater for 1 minute and 8.4 seconds, covering a distance of 60 meters. His remarkable performance demonstrated both strong swimming skills and exceptional breath-holding capacity. The silver medal went to André Six of France, and the bronze medal was awarded to Peder Lykkeberg of Denmark, both of whom also showcased impressive abilities in this demanding discipline.

Legacy

The 1900 men's underwater swimming event remains a fascinating footnote in Olympic history. Its inclusion in the Paris Games reflected the experimental nature of the early Olympics, where the range of competitions was broader and often included disciplines that might seem unconventional today. Despite its appeal to spectators and the unique challenge it presented to competitors, the event was not included in subsequent Olympics, largely due to the difficulty of judging and the subjective nature of the scoring system.

The discontinuation of underwater swimming as an Olympic event leaves it as a singular chapter in the annals of Olympic history, remembered for its novelty and the distinctive test it posed to athletes. It highlights the evolving nature of the Olympic Games and the process by which sports are selected for inclusion in the world's premier athletic competition.

See Also

• Swimming at the 1900 Summer Olympics
• List of Olympic records in swimming
• History of swimming