What Is the Individual Medley in Swimming? Order and Rules
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TL;DR
An individual medley is one swimmer’s race across four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Unlike a medley relay, the same swimmer completes every leg.
Race order and distances
The stroke order is fixed. Events may be 200 or 400 metres in pool competition, with distance and lane rules set by the meet program.
Legal transitions
Each changeover has its own touch requirement. Butterfly and breaststroke require two-hand touches; the backstroke change begins with a legal touch before the swimmer turns into the next stroke.
Why the race is difficult
The swimmer must balance four technical demands and manage fatigue. A strong breaststroke leg can recover an early deficit, while a poor transition can erase a fast split.
Individual medley versus medley relay
In a medley relay, four swimmers each swim one stroke. In the individual medley, one swimmer carries the full sequence, so pacing and versatility matter more.
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