Egypt

 

2500 B.C.

Suggested by Jennifer and Rebecca B in Marathon, Ontario.

Archaeologists have found evidence of swimming as an organised activity as far back as 2500 B.C. in Egypt. It was also popular in ancient Greece, Rome and Assyria.





Credit for building the first heated swimming pool goes to Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC. But most people continued to do their swimming in lakes, rivers and other natural bodies of water until the middle of the 19th century. By 1837, London, England had six indoor pools with diving boards. When the modern-day Olympic Games began in 1896, swimming races were among the original events, and the popularity of swimming began to spread. So come on in -- the water's fine!




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