Swimming was invented
before recorded history. Humans discovered how to swim
by accident. A person probably fell into the water and
struggled to shore using a dog-paddle stroke. There was an
Egyptian hieroglyph for swimming dating from 2500 BC.
The ancient Greeks and Romans made swimming an
important part of their military training programs. There
have been known swimming contests that were organized
in Japan as early as the 1st century BC. During the Middle
Ages in Europe, swimming declined in popularity. People
felt that the water was contaminated and a source of
disease. Not everyone feared the water, however, Louis
XI reportedly swam daily in the Seine. During the early
19th century, swimming
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However,
only 5% of those who swim do so at an aerobic pace.
Although few doubt the aerobic benefits of swimming,
studies comparing swimming with jogging, results found that
swimmers lost less body fat than joggers. Apparently
swimming causes an adjustment in how energy is burned,
resulting in the burning of more carbohydrates than body
fat. One reason might be that swimmers retain more body
fat to insulate and maintain body heat.
For this essay, I am going to be discussing the short story “Swimming” found on the New Yorker, and written by T. Cooper. I have chosen this story for many reasons, and among those reasons is the personal sadness I felt when I first read the story, almost as if the universe was placing a certain theme in my life, that only the main character could possibly understand. I am talking about running, the god given instinct felt by all men, inherent in the nature of fear, and brought out in all who feel sadness in its full intensity. Though in my short life I can not compare the sadness I have felt with that of losing a child at my own hand, but if I had been placed in that situation, if fate had tempted my soul with such a sequence of events, I would like to think I could find the strength to endure and the courage to not abandon all I had previously known. Yet I am able to reconcile the themes of grief, the mode of recovery, and the longing to escape such a terrible tale. I think in this piece, as I will discuss in later parts, the author was able to put into words a transformation we rarely get to observe in closeness, the kind of transformation that turns a kind man into a “just man” the kind of death that turns this world from a beautiful and happy place into a world that is closing in on our main character, that is forcing him to surface temporarily and gasp for air, much like he does when he finds peace in the water, wading breath after air, after sea. I firmly believe that
My parents tell me that I took to swimming like... a fish takes to water. It is a safe place where I can float free of worries. Driven by passion and dedication, I decided to begin swimming competitively. Competitive swimming requires an intense level of determination and discipline. Forcing myself to get out of my warm bed at 5:30 in the morning to put on a still-slightly-damp swimsuit and stand in 40-degree weather waiting for practice to start. Putting up with limited lane space and irritating swimmers who think they are faster. Making a conscious effort to work on my stroke form, turns, touches, and techniques. The water becomes a whirlpool of injuries, losses, wins, friendships, enemies, and sickness. The water becomes home.
332 B.C The first idea of SCUBA diving was in the year 332 B.C when Alexander the Great was lowered in a diving bell-like object. Alexander the Great went down in a glass diving bell so that he could see what was going on around him under water. Scyllis was a Greek during one of the many wars. He discovered that his enemies, the Persians, were going to attack his naval ship. To stop the Persians, he cut the ships from their mooring.
Athletics had not always been a flauntable aspect of my life as they are now. In grades 1-4, I was uncoordinated and far too lanky to produce and store any muscle. I often ponder about what changed in the fifth grade, for I became very agile and have exercised almost every day since the beginning of that year. I did not pick up the sport of swimming until the seventh grade and I cannot imagine myself not swimming, not only as a source of exercise but as a source of pure pleasure.
In The Swimmer a short story by John Cheever a man named Neddy Merrill decides to swim across every pool in the county naming his route the Lucinda River after his wife. As he goes on this journey some of his neighbors are nice, some show pity, and others show distaste for him. Throughout the story Cheever gives subtle hints that Neddy is disoriented as he doesn’t remember key details of things that have happened to his friends in the area. At the end of the story a disoriented Neddy reaches his home to find it empty, with his family gone. Cheever uses this short story to critique the way of life in the upper class suburbs of America that contributed to the social demise of Neddy Merrill
I learned that swimming is both good for the body and the mind. Water is 600 to 700 times denser than air so it improves muscular strength. Adapted aquatics can also improve flexibility because the reduction in gravity allows a greater range of motion and the uniform pressure gives the body greater support. Adapted aquatics is also good for mental and emotional health of those with special needs. While swimming the volunteers give praise and strike up friendly conversation that give opportunity for success. I also learned that adapted aquatics activities should be changed to fit the individual's needs and
In Frank Perry’s 1986 film adaptation of “The Swimmer”, Cheever, Neddy, an upper middle class man who decides to swim across his neighbors’ pools home only to discover that his house no longer belongs to him and he is no longer a part of his family, is characterized as a very suave and robust man. The first scene of The Swimmer emphasizes Neddy’s vitality by the ways in which the camera encompasses Neddy’s body and that of his friends, the addition of two characters as well as additional interactions between Neddy and the women in this text. This contrasts the characterization of Neddy in the short story in the sense that Cheever’s Neddy is not presented as this sexual and aggressively masculine figure.
Swimming is one of the most beneficial exercises you can do for your health, the sport uses your entire body, and can overall improve your health. Not only does swimming help manage your weight, but it will also benefit you mentally, it will reduce your stress levels as well as boost your mood. Physically, swimming will strengthen your muscles, and unlike many other sports swimming does not put increased stress on your bones, joints and muscles. Depending on what you do, there are a variety of ways you can improve your health.
The journey of competitive swimming started at the age of eight for my local `neighborhood team. I exhibited great potential for the future, for I won nearly all my races. This seemed like the sport
Central Idea: Swimming has a long and rich history that dates back way before our generations and is not always as beneficial as we may think.
Point 2 – Studies show that learning how to swim does allow another area for physical fitness and is one of the best areas for physical activity.
The purpose of this essay is to analyze the short story “The Swimmer” by Jon Cheever and it’s film adaptation. Overall, the film and the short story use different dialogue, different characterization, and different visual effects and imagery to provide the reader and the viewer with the allegory of Ned Merrill’s life. While both works focus on the fanciful nature of moving across an entire neighborhood using swimming pools, there are more differences between the film and short story than similarities. Firstly, I will begin by describing the usage of visual effects in the film and imagery in the short story. Secondly, I will describe the differences in dialogue. Finally, I will conclude by describing the ways in which both pieces leverage their characters.
"The Swimmer" by John Cheever describes Neddy Merril's "swim" home. Neddy is a husband and a father, he is also a drunk. The story encompasses about twenty years of his life of alcohol which ruined not only him but also his relationship with his family. One day after waking up with a hangover he drinks a little and decides to swim home. It is obvious he is a drunk because he is constantly searching for a drink on his swim home.
Preview: To show the Counterpoints of swimming, the benefits of swimming, and why swimming is good for all ages and body types.
The period of 1865 to 1950 was critical to the formation of “Modern” sport that is recognized today. In an article by Allen Guttmann titled From Ritual to Record: the nature of modern sport, Guttmann outlines seven characteristics that played a central role in the development of sports. These concepts were created as a sociological history of sports and took into place both American and European competitions. Guttmann’s notions of secularism, rationalization, bureaucracy and quantification, among others, all advanced the culture of sports; yet the most important of the stated characteristics is equality.