33 swimming quiz questions with answers, from stroke rules and pool sizes to Olympic records. Reveal each answer as you go, or read the full key at the end.
Every question gives you three options and hides the correct one behind a button, so a group can play it honestly and keep score. These swimming quiz questions start with stroke basics and move on to race rules, equipment and records, and if you would rather read the swimming trivia questions and answers in one block, the answer key under the scoring table lists all 33 in order. The first third works as a swimming quiz for kids, and the whole set reads well out loud if you want to put questions about swimming to a club night or a family round of swimming trivia.
1. Which competitive stroke is swum on the back?
- A) Butterfly
- B) Backstroke
- C) Breaststroke
2. In which order are the four strokes swum in an individual medley?
- A) Freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly
- B) Backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle
- C) Butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle
3. In which year did women first participate in Olympic swimming events?
- A) 1900
- B) 1912
- C) 1924
4. How many lengths are swum in the Olympic 100m event in a 50m pool?
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) Four
5. Who holds the highest number of Olympic swimming medals?
- A) Michael Phelps
- B) Ryan Lochte
- C) Ian Thorpe
6. What assists swimmers in their flip turn during races?
- A) Pool walls
- B) Pool floats
- C) Pool lane dividers
7. At what distance are the swimming events in the Olympic Games held?
- A) 50m to 1500m
- B) 100m to 800m
- C) 200m to 2000m
8. What stroke does the Individual Medley event start with?
- A) Breaststroke
- B) Freestyle
- C) Butterfly
9. What is the optimal body position for efficient swimming in freestyle?
- A) Inclined position
- B) Vertical position
- C) Horizontal position
10. What is included in the free kicking styles in swimming?
- A) Dolphin Kick
- B) Flutter Kick
- C) Both A and B
11. How long is a short course pool?
- A) 25 meters
- B) 50 meters
- C) 100 meters
12. Which muscle group is primarily used during breaststroke?
- A) Back muscles
- B) Leg muscles
- C) Chest muscles
13. How many swimmers are involved in a relay event?
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) Four
14. Which stroke is swum with a simultaneous whip kick?
- A) Backstroke
- B) Breaststroke
- C) Freestyle
15. What is the term used when swimmers dive into the pool at the beginning of a race?
- A) Plunge
- B) Start
- C) Springboard
16. What color is used for the central line of a swimming pool to mark the middle of the racing lane?
- A) Red
- B) Blue
- C) Black
17. What stroke is often considered the most energy-efficient in swimming?
- A) Freestyle
- B) Backstroke
- C) Breaststroke
18. Which item do competitive swimmers wear to reduce drag from their hair?
- A) Goggles
- B) Swim cap
- C) Nose clip
19. What is the term for swimmers sharing one lane by going up one side and back down the other?
- A) Circle swimming
- B) Tandem swimming
- C) Split swimming
20. Which of the following is a swimming technique used by swimmers to increase their speed underwater after pushing off the wall?
- A) Flip turn
- B) Streamline
- C) Dolphin kick
21. Which swim stroke is known for being the fastest?
- A) Freestyle
- B) Butterfly
- C) Breaststroke
22. What is the name of the platform swimmers stand on before diving into the pool?
- A) Starting block
- B) Dive board
- C) Jump pad
23. What is the term for the force acting against a swimmer's forward motion in water?
- A) Buoyancy
- B) Drag
- C) Lift
24. Which type of swim race involves each competitor swimming the same distance, one after the other?
- A) Relay
- B) Interval
- C) Pursuit
25. When a freestyle swimmer breathes bilaterally, how often is a breath taken?
- A) Every stroke
- B) Every three strokes
- C) Every six strokes
26. How long is an Olympic long course pool?
- A) 25 meters
- B) 33 meters
- C) 50 meters
27. In how many Olympic swimming events did Michael Phelps win gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Games?
- A) Six
- B) Seven
- C) Eight
28. Which piece of equipment is held between the legs and used mainly for increasing arm strength during swimming practice?
- A) Kickboard
- B) Pull buoy
- C) Fins
29. In a medley relay, what is the correct order of strokes swam by the second swimmer?
- A) Freestyle
- B) Backstroke
- C) Breaststroke
30. How many lengths must be swum in a 400m Individual Medley event in a 50m pool?
- A) Four
- B) Six
- C) Eight
31. What material is the Olympic swimming pool’s racing lane line made of?
- A) Plastic
- B) Rubber
- C) Nylon
32. In competitive pool swimming, which body part should touch the wall first when finishing a backstroke race?
- A) Hand
- B) Head
- C) Feet
33. How many swimmers compete in the final round of an Olympic swimming event?
- A) Six
- B) Eight
- C) Ten
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Paddle PoolerArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Freestyle FloaterRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Backstroke BeginnerMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Butterfly MasterAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -33 | 95-100% | Olympic SwimmerLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Swimming Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this swimming quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of swimming trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which competitive stroke is swum on the back? | B) Backstroke |
| 2 | In which order are the four strokes swum in an individual medley? | C) Butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle |
| 3 | In which year did women first participate in Olympic swimming events? | B) 1912 |
| 4 | How many lengths are swum in the Olympic 100m event in a 50m pool? | B) Two |
| 5 | Who holds the highest number of Olympic swimming medals? | A) Michael Phelps |
| 6 | What assists swimmers in their flip turn during races? | A) Pool walls |
| 7 | At what distance are the swimming events in the Olympic Games held? | A) 50m to 1500m |
| 8 | What stroke does the Individual Medley event start with? | C) Butterfly |
| 9 | What is the optimal body position for efficient swimming in freestyle? | C) Horizontal position |
| 10 | What is included in the free kicking styles in swimming? | C) Both A and B |
| 11 | How long is a short course pool? | A) 25 meters |
| 12 | Which muscle group is primarily used during breaststroke? | B) Leg muscles |
| 13 | How many swimmers are involved in a relay event? | C) Four |
| 14 | Which stroke is swum with a simultaneous whip kick? | B) Breaststroke |
| 15 | What is the term used when swimmers dive into the pool at the beginning of a race? | B) Start |
| 16 | What color is used for the central line of a swimming pool to mark the middle of the racing lane? | C) Black |
| 17 | What stroke is often considered the most energy-efficient in swimming? | A) Freestyle |
| 18 | Which item do competitive swimmers wear to reduce drag from their hair? | B) Swim cap |
| 19 | What is the term for swimmers sharing one lane by going up one side and back down the other? | A) Circle swimming |
| 20 | Which of the following is a swimming technique used by swimmers to increase their speed underwater after pushing off the wall? | B) Streamline |
| 21 | Which swim stroke is known for being the fastest? | A) Freestyle |
| 22 | What is the name of the platform swimmers stand on before diving into the pool? | A) Starting block |
| 23 | What is the term for the force acting against a swimmer's forward motion in water? | B) Drag |
| 24 | Which type of swim race involves each competitor swimming the same distance, one after the other? | A) Relay |
| 25 | When a freestyle swimmer breathes bilaterally, how often is a breath taken? | B) Every three strokes |
| 26 | How long is an Olympic long course pool? | C) 50 meters |
| 27 | In how many Olympic swimming events did Michael Phelps win gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Games? | C) Eight |
| 28 | Which piece of equipment is held between the legs and used mainly for increasing arm strength during swimming practice? | B) Pull buoy |
| 29 | In a medley relay, what is the correct order of strokes swam by the second swimmer? | C) Breaststroke |
| 30 | How many lengths must be swum in a 400m Individual Medley event in a 50m pool? | C) Eight |
| 31 | What material is the Olympic swimming pool's racing lane line made of? | A) Plastic |
| 32 | In competitive pool swimming, which body part should touch the wall first when finishing a backstroke race? | A) Hand |
| 33 | How many swimmers compete in the final round of an Olympic swimming event? | B) Eight |
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FAQ
How many questions are in this swimming quiz?
There are 33 questions. Each one has three options, and the correct answer sits behind the reveal button under the question.
Where can I find the swimming trivia questions and answers together?
The answer key near the bottom of the page lists all 33 questions with their correct answers in order, so you can check a whole round at once instead of revealing every question one by one.
Are these swimming quiz questions hard?
They are mixed. The early questions cover strokes, pool lengths and relay basics that any swimmer knows, while the later ones move into race rules and Olympic records.
Is there a swimming quiz for kids?
The first third of the set works well for younger swimmers, because it sticks to strokes, pool sizes and equipment. The rule and record questions later on suit adults.
Can I use these questions about swimming for a club night?
Yes. Read the question and the three options out loud, let everyone write down a letter, then work through the answer key and count the correct ones.
What is a good score on this swimming quiz?
Anything above half is solid. The scoring table under the last question turns your number of correct answers into a rank, from Paddle Pooler at the bottom to Olympic Swimmer at the top.
What are the four competitive swimming strokes?
Butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. In an individual medley they are swum in exactly that order, which is one of the questions in the quiz above.
Who has won the most Olympic swimming medals?
Michael Phelps of the United States, with 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold. He won eight golds at a single Games in Beijing in 2008.
How long is a short course pool?
25 meters. A long course pool, the one used at the Olympic Games and the world championships, is 50 meters long.
29. In a medley relay, what is the correct order of strokes swam by the second swimmer?
A) Freestyle
B) Backstroke
C) Breaststroke
Click here to reveal answer:
B) Backstroke
I believe the answer is incorrect. It should be (C).
Medley Realy is in this order: Back, Breast, Fly and Freestyle.
Hey Ruth,
I double-checked, but Backstroke is the correct answer.
Here is Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medley_swimming
“These four strokes go in an order by Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and finally Freestyle.”.
Best regards,
Max
Hi Max,
Sorry, but you and Wikipedia are mistaken. In an individual medley, the order is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle (FL, BA, BR, FR). However, in a medley relay, the order is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle (BA, BR, FL, FR). Otherwise, the finishing butterfly swimmer would collide with a swimmer already in the water. Trust me—I’m a swim club coach.
Thanks for pointing that out! We’ve applied the necessary changes to correctly reflect the order of strokes in both individual medleys and medley relays. Your expertise is appreciated!