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Backstroke

Backstroke is a swimming discipline in which athletes race a set pool distance on their back. Body position, alternating arm pull, kick, in-water start, legal turns and finish decide performance.

LevelVariant FamilyAquatics Family CategorySwimming

AI-generated illustration: Backstroke — AI-generated illustration

Classification

Category Swimming

Family Aquatics Family

Level Variant

Getting started

Kurzbeschreibung Backstroke is pool swimming on the back with time-based scoring.

Geeignet für Suitable for people who like swimming with freer breathing, technique details and clear races.

Cost 10-80 EUR for pool access, goggles and possibly a class. Pool or club fees, training and event entry depending on level. Swimming club, masters group, swim school or local pool. Clean body position matters more than expensive gear.

First progress Better body position and straighter lengths often appear within a few sessions.

Fitness level medium

Was du brauchst

swimming ability
pool
swimwear
goggles
coach feedback for technique

First steps

practise body position and kick
swim short technique lengths
learn lane-marker orientation
build turns slowly

Swimming club, swim school, masters group or pool technique session.

Train only in cleared lanes and start with instruction or supervision if unsure.

Weitere Angaben

Tags backstroke, water-sport, backstroke-swimming, aquatics-familie, rueckenschwimmen, schwimmen, swimming

Rules and format

Die Grundlagen

Ziel

Swim the announced distance legally on the back in the fastest time.

Teilnehmer

Individual starters or relay legs.

Teamgröße

Individual; relays depending on event.

Spielfeld

25 m or 50 m pool with lanes.

Dauer

Depends on format and event.

Wertung

Fastest legal time wins.

Gewinnbedingung

Best valid time, placing or score in the announced format.

Ausrüstung

swimwear
goggles
cap
pool lane

Wichtige Regelpunkte

safety breach
course/rule breach
equipment breach

Regelquellen

Federations and sources

Federations

World Aquatics (World Aquatics)
World Aquatics (World Aquatics)

Swimming Rules World Aquatics · official-rules · high
2026 World Aquatics Competition Regulations World Aquatics · rulebook · high
Swimming Competitions World Aquatics · competition-guide · high