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Type of sport

Water sports

Sports in, on or under water: swimming, paddling, sailing, diving and more.

68sports & disciplines
10on the Olympic programme
19th centuryoldest: water polo
United Kingdommost common birthplace
Best documented

Main water sports

Full list

All 68 water sports

68 sports
SportPart ofOriginFirst recordedOlympicDisciplines
Surfing—20218
Water polo United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland19th century19001
Rowing—19009
Divingcompetitive swimming—19044
Competitive swimming—189624
Synchronized swimmingcompetitive swimming—1984—
Windsurfing——2
Kite surfing———
Raftingwhitewater kayaking1930s——
Relay raceorienteering—20006
Water skiingskiing—1972—
Butterfly strokecompetitive swimming1930s——
Freedivingunderwater sport——1
Breaststrokecompetitive swimming———
Backstrokecompetitive swimming——1
Canoeingcanoeing and kayaking——5
Canoeing and kayaking—192420
Wakeboarding———
Canoe polocanoeing and kayaking———
Medley swimmingcompetitive swimming——1
Open water swimmingswimrun—20161
Underwater hockeyunderwater sport England (United Kingdom)———
Freestyle swimmingcompetitive swimming——3
4 × 100 metres relaytrack relay race———
Winter swimmingcompetitive swimming———
Canoe slalomcanoeing and kayaking———
Canoe sprintcanoeing and kayaking—2016—
Spearfishingunderwater sport———
Finswimmingunderwater sport———
Land sailingsailing———
Single scullrowing———
Kayakingcanoeing and kayaking——4
Bodyboardingsurfing———
Cave divingtechnical diving———
Ekidentrack relay race———
Cliff jumpinghigh diving———
Recreational divingunderwater sport——4
Technical divingrecreational diving——1
Life saving as a sport Australia———
Underwater sportunderwater diving——13
Wildwater canoeingcanoeing and kayaking———
Ice sailingsailing——1
Para swimmingcompetitive swimming———
Canoe marathoncanoeing and kayaking———
Para canoecanoeing and kayaking———
Riverboardingcompetitive swimming———
High divingdiving——1
Masters swimmingcompetitive swimming———
Yacht racingsailing———
Para rowingrowing———
Dragon boat sportcanoeing——3
River surfingsurfing———
Track relay racerelay race——5
Pacu JalurcanoeingIndonesia———
Coastal rowingrowing———
Whitewater kayakingkayaking——1
Water jousting——1
Marathon swimmingopen water swimming—2016—
Swimrun200620162
Canoe campingcanoeing and kayaking———
Ocean rowingrowing———
Biribol Brazil———
Døds divingdiving———
Indoor rowingrowing———
Bog snorkellingsnorkeling———
200 metres individual medleymedley swimming———
Skate sailingice sailing———
50 metres freestylefreestyle swimming———
† former Olympic sport, year of first appearance. Olympic years include appearances through disciplines.
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