If you’ve ever been involved in competitive sports, you’ll know how much emphasis is placed on measurements.
As such, you may have wondered “how many yards are actually in a swimming mile?”.
The difference between a walked mile and a swam mile is actually vast, a swam mile equates to 1650 yards whilst a ran/walked mile is equal to 1760 yards.
The reason for this is that it is the closest distance to the Olympic swimming event of 1500 meters which ensures that swimmers are in peak condition for this event and are more able to measure their abilities with accuracy.
The vast majority of swimmers and swimming coaches will consider a mile as being equivalent to 1650 yards and this is also dependent on the type of pool that you are swimming in.
This is because the majority of swimmers will be training in yard-pools, regardless of whether they are swimming in the short or long course season.
Scientists would probably always state that a mile is a mile and reference the standard measurement of 1760 yards.
Friends and family members may think that you have gone insane!
However, competitive swimming will swear by the notion that a mile is equivalent to 1650 yards.
As mentioned, this is because it is easier to equate this measurement to the traditional 1500 meter swimming race amongst other competitive swimming events.
However, if you are a regular swimmer who is just swimming as a hobby or a means of keeping fit, then you should probably measure your mileage by the standardised definition (1760 yards).
This will equate to approximately 70 lengths (if you are swimming in a 25 yard pool) or 66 lengths if you are swimming in a 25 meter pool.
If your pool is a large 50 meter one, then you will only need to swim 33 lengths in order to complete a mile.
If you are an open water swimmer and you are lucky enough to train in a large lap pool during your weekly esterase, then you will also be able to follow the guidelines above to ensure that your fitness is built up on the basis of the miles that you wish to swim.
If you’re not the biggest fan of counting laps, then you should definitely invest in some goggles that measure your distance whilst you’re swimming.
A suggested pair of goggles to purchase are the FORM Smart Swim Goggles that can be purchased for around $200 on Amazon!
These goggles have been well received by both competitive swimming and open water swimmers and the outstanding reviews speak for themselves!
Another accessory that is perfect for tracking your progress underwater is the DoSmarter Fitness Watch that is available for purchase on Amazon for approximately $42.
This watch is able to be measured during any water related activities and can also be used during your other means of exercise making it a well-worthy investment.
This FItness Tracker is also available to purchase on Amazon for only $28 and is definitely a good investment.
Not only is this product inexpensive, it is able to be used during any water related activities without breaking the bank by purchasing an expensive version.
It has a four star rating on amazon and has been reviewed nearly 4000 times which proves that it is an effective means of measuring your progress.
This watch is fully water resistant and has a large capacity for battery life.
Whilst it shouldn’t be used in hot baths or saunas, it is able to be used in swimming pools and has a usage time of 7-10 days without charging!
Arguably, the best option to measure your water-based progress is the SoundPEATS Smart Watch.
This product has also been reviewed nearly 4000 times on Amazon and only costs $36.99 to purchase.
It boats a super long battery life which means that you will not need to fear it dying during your extensive laps!
And after a full charge of 2 hours, it will last for approximately 10 days, ensuring that your daily swimming practice is not interrupted and that you can measure your miles effectively.
If your children are getting into swimming and want to become competitive swimmers, then the BIGGERFIVE Vigor Kids Fitness Tracker is the perfect choice.
It comes in four colors, including pink, purple, blue and black and it is fully waterproof.
The reviews are mostly favorable and thus, your children will be able to train and enjoy your leisure time whilst monitoring their athleticism and progress.
An alternative watch that can be used for children who want to become competitive swimmers, is the Inspiratek Kids Fitness Tracker.
This watch is only $29.95 and boasts a high-level waterproofing ability.
It also has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Amazon at present and the reviews are mostly favorable, making this a great choice for aspiring little athletes!
The Fitpolo Smart Watch is arguably one of the best looking products on the market, it’s slender black design makes it stand out as a waterproof watch to invest in.
It boasts a long battery life and is easily able to be adjusted to suit your wrist size.
It is priced at $38.99 and has received over 1000 ratings on Amazon with the majority of these being 5 star reviews.
There are numerous waterproof products like waterproof fitness watches or goggles that will enable you to track your mileage effectively without needing to resort to old-school methods of measurement.
However, it is always good to know how many yards make up a swimming mile in order to be able to track your progress effectively and condense it easily when discussing with friends or trainers alike.
These products have become undoubtedly more popular in recent years as athletes and regular swimmers like to showcase their achievements via social media and these waterproof tracking accessories allow for an easy means of tracking your progress and proving your abilities!
These products have also been proven to increase efficiency as you are able to meet and beat any target that you set, whilst working towards personal aims and goals that only enhance your body’s capabilities, improving your mental health by proxy.
Any competitive swimmer knows that maintaining the best mindset is the only way to ensure that you stand the best chance of winning and/or achieving your personal best and these products will enable you to swim miles without continually having to think about measurements and keep track of your progress as this can be off-putting, distracting and frustrating if you are not someone who is prone to rigorous tracking and organisation.
This is especially important when it comes to the differential nature of competitive sports and these accessories will enable you to always have a fixed reference point with regards to your personal and professional progress.
Why Is A Swimming Mile 1650 Yards?
If you take a look at the history of the Olympics and old Olympic records, you will discover that swimming was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1896.
It was measured in yards from 1904 at the Olympic Games that were held in St. Louis.
These games didn’t include a ‘mile swim’ but this is because the swimming competitions took place in open water during this time as opposed to
50m swimming pools!
As the mid-stages of the 20th century took place, swimming pools were being built in 55 yard distances in the western countries including the United Kingdom, USA and Australia as they were using the imperial system of measurements.
These pools were created to make swimming races easier to measure and manage as races could then be divided up into half-mile swims (16 lengths) or a full mile swim (32 lengths).
However, in 1965 the Amateur Athletic Union decided to change yard swimming to meter swimming in order to better prepare athletes for the demands of the Olympic Games (which used only 50 meter swimming pools at this point.)
The USA decided to follow suit and switch to 50 meter pools for long course swimming events and 25 yard pools for short course swimming.
In the modern day, swimming is still split into two seasons, with the longer course swimming typically taking place during the summer months and short course swimming taking place during the winter period.
Today, the 1500 meter freestyle event is one of the main events of the Olympic Games and after the United States had changed their pools to 50 meters for long course swimming, they needed to ensure that their athletes weren’t at a disadvantage during the short course swimming season when travelling to International events.
For this reason, the 1650 yard freestyle event was created, as this is the closest equivalent distance to the 1500 meter swimming race and incorporated the 25 yard pool measurements for short course swimming.
As such, the Amateur Athletic Union replaced the typically regarded 1760 yard mile swim with a modernised, more convenient version and as more people began to refer to the 1650 yard freestyle as a ‘mile swim’, people’s perceptions began to change, hence why it is widely considered to be a mile swim until this day.
To conclude, a swimming mile is the equivalent of 1650 yards for competitive swimmers and 1760 yards for regular swimmers.
Of course, you can switch up between the two measurements if you wish to, irrespective of whether you are a competitive swimmer yourself.
To summarize, if you wish to train for swimming a scientific mile, then you should swim approximately 70 lengths in a 25 yard pool or 66 lengths in a 25 meter pool.
This is reduced to 33 lengths in a larger, competitive pool.
The 1650 yard swimming event is widely known as the mile swim, despite being approximately 110 yards short, because the USA wanted to better prepare its athletes for the 1500 meter freestyle event, which is one of the main events at any international long course swimming competitions including the world renowned Olympic Games.
Hi, my name is Matt Williams and I have been competing in races all over the world for almost a decade. My love for running began when I was a child, always alongside my parents as they trained for their own triathlons.
I now chase the race all over the world, mixing my two passions - sightseeing and racing. I have been through 10 countries and countless cities, and I’m only getting started.
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