IG07 Sports

Swimming has been around for thousands of years. In 400 BC Egyptians and Romans leisurely dived off cliffs and in the 14th Century, medieval knights mastered swimming in armour!

The English are thought to be the first modern society to develop swimming as a sport. By 1837, regular swimming competitions were being held in London's 6 artificial pools, organized by the National Swimming Society in England.

As the sport grew more swimming pools were built and in 1896, swimming became an Olympic sport for men with the 100 metres and 1500 metres freestyle competitions held in open water.

Although people have swum since ancient times, swimming strokes have been developed greatly in the past 100 years. The best way to see if the new stroke is an improvement is to use it in competition. That's why so much attention is paid to speed and endurance records.

Women were excluded from the sport in the first several Olympic Games, because it was assumed they were too frail to engage in competitive sports (?). It was only at the 1912 Games when women's swimming made its debut at the prompting of the group that was later known as the International Olympic Committee.

Swimming traditionally provides the most atmosphere of any sport in the Island Games, with team mates and spectators creating extraordinary vocal support during races, both in the heats and the finals.

Nautical Club of Rhodes Swimming Pool.

In Rhodes

Swimming has a long history in the island although training in winter is hard due to the pools being outside.

Two swimming clubs exist on the island and local competitions are frequently organised.

All swimming events will be held in the 25m, eight lane, Nautical Club of Rhodes swimming pool, which is located near the marina of Rhodes.

Games Records before the 2007 Games

Event - Record - Holder(s) - Island - Year

Men's

50m Freestyle 23.61 Alexis Militis Jersey 2005
100m Freestyle 50.64 Alexis Militis Jersey 2005
200m Freestyle 1.54.56 Jonathon Le Noury Guernsey 2005
400m Freestyle 4.01.42 Jonathon Le Noury Guernsey 2005
1500m Freestyle 15.52.13 Shaune Fraser Cayman 2003

50m Butterfly 25.49 Simon Le Couilliard Jersey 2005
100m Butterfly 54.93 Simon Le Couilliard Jersey 2005
200m Butterfly 2.00.07 Simon Le Couilliard Jersey 2005

50m Backstroke 26.39 Thomas Hollingsworth Guernsey 2005
100m Backstroke 56.22 Thomas Hollingsworth Guernsey 2005
200m Backstroke 2.01.93 Ian Powell Guernsey 2005

50m Breaststroke 28.25 Darren Mew Isle of Wight 1997
100m Breaststroke 1.02.99 Darren Mew Isle of Wight 1997
200m Breaststroke 2.19.89 Darren Mew Isle of Wight 1997

100m Individual Medley 58.68 Thomas Hollingsworth Guernsey 2005
200m Individual Medley 2.04.93 Thomas Hollingsworth Guernsey 2005
400m Individual Medley 4.25.23 Daniel Halksworth Jersey 2005

4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1.35.67 Simon Le Couilliard, Damien Bouchere, Liam du Feu and Alexis Militis Jersey 2005
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3.28.41 Simon Le Couilliard, Daniel Halksworth, Liam du Feu and Alexis Militis Jersey 2005
4 x 50m Medley Relay 1.46.17 Liam du Feu, Simon Le Couilliard, Alexis Militis and Damien Bouchere Jersey 2005
4 x 100m Medley Relay 3.54.74 Simon Le Couilliard, Damien Bouchere, Alexis Militis and Nick Hawkshaw Jersey 2003

Women's

50m Freestyle 26.90 Natalie Bree Jersey 2001
100m Freestyle 58.16 Natalie Bree Jersey 2001
200m Freestyle 2.03.97 Natalie Bree Jersey 2001
400m Freestyle 4.22.32 Kaitlyn Elphinstone Cayman 2003
800m Freestyle 8.58.16 Kaitlyn Elphinstone Cayman 2003

50m Butterfly 28.98 Natalie Bree Jersey 2003
100m Butterfly 1.04.31 Heather Roffey Cayman 2005
200m Butterfly 2.18.61 Heather Roffey Cayman 2003

50m Backstroke 29.91 Shauna Powells Cayman 2001
100m Backstroke 1.04.02 Shauna Powells Cayman 2001
200m Backstroke 2.17.22 Natalie Bree Jersey 2001

50m Breaststroke 33.18 Helen Watts Guernsey 1999
100m Breaststroke 1.12.51 Helen Watts Guernsey 1999
200m Breaststroke 2.34.68 Natalie Bree Jersey 2001

100m Individual Medley 1.04.98 Ida Sandin Gotland 2005
200m Individual Medley 2.18.95 Natalie Bree Jersey 2003
400m Individual Medley 4.52.62 Natalie Bree Jersey 2001

4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1.51.32 Laura Middleton, Emma Hirst, Katherine Gamlin and Natalie Bree Jersey 2001
4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 4.02.09 Claire Hudson, Rebecca Charlton, Casey Lee and Gail Strobridge Guernsey 2003
4 x 50m Medley Relay 2.02.87 Kiera Black, Natalie Bree, Emma Hirst and Katherine Gamlin Jersey 2001
4 x 100m Medley Relay 4.29.88 Natalie Bree, Kate Sloan, Katherine Gamlin and Emma Hirst Jersey 2001