The 1908 London Olympics introduced a purpose-built 100-metre pool, establishing the standard competitive format still used in Olympic swimming today.
Key Facts
- Number of events
- 6 swimming events contested
- Pool length
- 100 metres (first purpose-built Olympic pool)
- Competing nations
- 14
- Total swimmers
- 100
- Competition dates
- July 13–25, 1908
- Gender participation
- Men only
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Prior Olympic swimming events were held in open water — the Mediterranean Sea in 1896, the Seine River in 1900, and an artificial lake in 1904 — creating inconsistent and uncontrolled competitive conditions. Organizers sought a standardized venue that would allow fair, measured competition for all participants.
At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, six men's swimming events were held from July 13 to July 25 in a 100-metre pool specially constructed inside the main stadium's track and field oval. Fourteen nations and 100 swimmers competed, with Canada and Finland making their Olympic swimming debuts.
All six events contested in 1908 became permanent fixtures in the Olympic swimming programme, appearing at every subsequent Games. The relay distance was extended to 4×200 m and the breaststroke event reshaped to 200 m, configurations that influenced the long-term structure of competitive swimming at the Olympics.
Result
at Purpose-built 100-metre pool inside the main Olympic stadium, London