What is the definition of a swimming lap?

Answer

I believe it is two lengths, or the distance from your starting point to the other end and back to the starting point. Here's why I believe that:

a) Years ago, my sister, who timed swimming races at school, told me that a "length" is the distance from one end of the pool to another, and a "lap" is two lengths.

b) The definition of a "lap" on a track is the distance of one complete cycle, from the starting point right back to the starting point. So it would make sense for a swimming lap to also be one complete cycle, from the starting point, across the pool and back to the starting point.

c) An online-dictionary said that to lap a swimmer is to be ahead of that swimmer by two lengths or more.

Answer

Yep he's right, its 2 lengths - From the starting point to the other end and back again

Answer

Swimming the length (long dimension) of a pool and returning back to the starting point is one lap. Usually athletes specify laps as the length of an Olympic standard size pool times 2.

Answer

One would think that 2 lengths of the pool is a lap -- that is from start to the end of the pool and back (seems to make sense, right?), however, according to the rules of the Olympic games, a lap is one length of a pool. This is how competitive high school and college swimmers count laps, as well.

Answer

In track a lap is one complete distance of the length of track. It's the same in swimming; one length of the pool is one lap. The lap in swimming is usually in a standard 25 metre pool. So one lap is 25 metres.

First answer by ID1070533663. Last edit by YepImNicole. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 71 [recommend question]