Swimming
Swimming is a water-based sport that involves moving through water using different strokes. It can be enjoyed recreationally or competed individually and in teams.
Swimming as a competitive sport activity emerged in Australia in the 1890's, with the first national championships held in 1894.
The first national organisation, the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, was created in 1909 to promote and manage swimming, diving, and water polo competitions in Australia. 1
Discover more about swimming
Clearinghouse evidence base
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make swimming more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about swimming.
Evolution:
- Amateur Swimming Union of Australia [1909-1985]
- Australian Swimming [1985-2004]
- Swimming Australia [2004-]
Participation
An estimated 3,483,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in swimming at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 1,124,000 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in swimming at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 1,860,000 Australian women and 1,610,000 men [aged 15+] participated in swimming at least once in 2025. 2
Explore further participation statistics for swimming through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Swimming Australia, opens in a new tab is the peak body recognised by governments at all levels as the national controlling body for the sport of swimming in Australia.
History
Founded in 1909 as the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia, the organisation became Australian Swimming Inc. in 1985 and was renamed Swimming Australia in 2004. 1, 3
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2025[PDF • 7.35 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2024[PDF • 4.38 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2023[PDF • 4.53 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2022[PDF • 740.04 kb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2021[PDF • 823.2 kb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2020[PDF • 3.17 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2019[PDF • 7.81 mb]
- 2017 Swimming Australia: Year in Review (2018)[PDF • 3.57 mb]
- 2016 Swimming Australia: Year in Review (2017)[PDF • 6.73 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2015[PDF • 7.48 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2014[PDF • 6.21 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2012-2013[PDF • 4.14 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2011-2012[PDF • 3.31 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2010-2011[PDF • 1.35 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2009-2010[PDF • 3.26 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2008-2009[PDF • 5.76 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2007-2008[PDF • 2.6 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2006-2007[PDF • 2.63 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2005-2006[PDF • 5.28 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2004-2005[PDF • 2.34 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2003-2004[PDF • 2.78 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2002-2003[PDF • 3.1 mb]
- Swimming Australia Annual Report 2001-2002[PDF • 1.09 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 2000-2001[PDF • 19.37 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1999-2000[PDF • 24.86 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1998-1999[PDF • 12.79 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1997-1998[PDF • 9.07 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1996-1997[PDF • 9.34 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1995-1996[PDF • 9.21 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1994-1995[PDF • 7.9 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1993-1994[PDF • 7.16 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1992-1993[PDF • 5.35 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1991-1992[PDF • 3.32 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1990-1991[PDF • 5.22 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1989-1990[PDF • 6.1 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1988-1989[PDF • 2.32 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1987-1988[PDF • 5.42 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1986-1987[PDF • 6.22 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1985-1986[PDF • 5.99 mb]
- Australian Swimming Annual Report 1984-1985[PDF • 5.38 mb]
- Amateur Swimming Union of Australia Annual Report 1983-84[PDF • 22.2 mb]
- Amateur Swimming Union of Australia Annual Report 1982-1983[PDF • 4.69 mb]
- Amateur Swimming Union of Australia Annual Report 1981-1982[PDF • 3.29 mb]
- Amateur Swimming Union of Australia Annual Report 1980-1981[PDF • 3.6 mb]
- Swimming Australia Financial Statements June 2022[PDF • 740.13 kb]
- Swimming Australia Financial Statements June 2021[PDF • 823.29 kb]
- Swimming Australia Financial Statements June 2018[PDF • 3.08 mb]
- Swimming Australia Financial Statements June 2017[PDF • 1.77 mb]
- Swimming Australia Financial Statements June 2016[PDF • 862.99 kb]
- eSwimmer 81 (2009)[PDF • 498.78 kb]
- eSwimmer 80 (2009)[PDF • 1.17 mb]
- eSwimmer 79 (2009)[PDF • 1.97 mb]
- eSwimmer 78 (2008)[PDF • 3.73 mb]
- eSwimmer 77 (2008)[PDF • 1.24 mb]
- eSwimmer 76 (2008)[PDF • 2.24 mb]
- eSwimmer 75 (2008)[PDF • 2.52 mb]
- eSwimmer 74 (2008)[PDF • 5.89 mb]
- eSwimmer 73 (2008)[PDF • 2.7 mb]
- eSwimmer 72 (2008)[PDF • 1 mb]
- eSwimmer 71 (2008)[PDF • 1.09 mb]
- eSwimmer 70 (2008)[PDF • 875.74 kb]
- eSwimmer 69 (2008)[PDF • 1020.29 kb]
- eSwimmer 68 (2008)[PDF • 1.33 mb]
- eSwimmer 67 (2008)[PDF • 2 mb]
- eSwimmer 66 (2007)[PDF • 2.72 mb]
- eSwimmer 61 (2007)[PDF • 2.37 mb]
- eSwimmer 60 (2007)[PDF • 1.99 mb]
- eSwimmer 59 (2007)[PDF • 1.5 mb]
- eSwimmer 58 (2007)[PDF • 1.02 mb]
- eSwimmer 57 (2007)[PDF • 918.84 kb]
- eSwimmer 56 (2007)[PDF • 1.01 mb]
- eSwimmer 55 (2006) [PDF • 1.05 mb]
- eSwimmer 54 (2006)[PDF • 1016.93 kb]
- eSwimmer 53 (2006) [PDF • 1 mb]
- eSwimmer 52 (2006)[PDF • 1.05 mb]
- eSwimmer 51 (2006)[PDF • 992.11 kb]
- eSwimmer 50 (2006)[PDF • 956.3 kb]
- eSwimmer 49 (2006)[PDF • 1005.64 kb]
- eSwimmer 48 (2006)[PDF • 1.18 mb]
- eSwimmer 47 (2006)[PDF • 1.09 mb]
- eSwimmer 46 (2006)[PDF • 1.03 mb]
- eSwimmer 45 (2006)[PDF • 1.06 mb]
- eSwimmer 44 (2006) [PDF • 247.99 kb]
- eSwimmer 43 (2006)[PDF • 246.43 kb]
- eSwimmer 42 (2005)[PDF • 248.12 kb]
- eSwimmer 41 (2005)[PDF • 259.16 kb]
- eSwimmer 40 (2005) [PDF • 249.58 kb]
- eSwimmer 39 (2005)[PDF • 244.4 kb]
- eSwimmer 38 (2005)[PDF • 241.3 kb]
- eSwimmer 37 (2005)[PDF • 1.07 mb]
- eSwimmer 36 (2005)[PDF • 1.01 mb]
- eSwimmer 35 (2005)[PDF • 1.01 mb]
- eSwimmer 34 (2005)[PDF • 1.18 mb]
- eSwimmer 33 (2005)[PDF • 1.16 mb]
- eSwimmer 32 (2005)[PDF • 1006.4 kb]
- eSwimmer 31 (2005)[PDF • 1.31 mb]
- eSwimmer 30 (2004)[PDF • 1.09 mb]
- eSwimmer 29 (2004)[PDF • 1.14 mb]
- eSwimmer 27 (2004)[PDF • 538.23 kb]
- eSwimmer 25 (2004)[PDF • 1.44 mb]
- eSwimmer 24 (2004)[PDF • 952.44 kb]
- eSwimmer 23 (2004)[PDF • 1.75 mb]
- eSwimmer 22 (2004)[PDF • 1.87 mb]
- eSwimmer 21 (2004)[PDF • 1.71 mb]
- eSwimmer 19 (2003)[PDF • 1.55 mb]
- eSwimmer 18 (2003)[PDF • 1.64 mb]
- eSwimmer 17 (2003)[PDF • 1.58 mb]
- eSwimmer 16 (2003)[PDF • 830.17 kb]
- eSwimmer 15 (2003)[PDF • 840.34 kb]
- eSwimmer 14 (2003)[PDF • 1.51 mb]
- eSwimmer 13 (2003)[PDF • 1.66 mb]
- eSwimmer 12 (2003)[PDF • 1.55 mb]
- eSwimmer 11 (2003)[PDF • 1.38 mb]
- eSwimmer 10 (2003)[PDF • 1.56 mb]
- eSwimmer 9 (2003)[PDF • 1.36 mb]
- eSwimmer 8 (2003)[PDF • 1.51 mb]
- eSwimmer 7 (2002)[PDF • 1.57 mb]
- eSwimmer 6 (2002)[PDF • 2.04 mb]
- eSwimmer 5 (2002)[PDF • 49.67 kb]
- eSwimmer 4 (2002)[PDF • 1.71 mb]
- eSwimmer 3 (2002)[PDF • 1.59 mb]
- eSwimmer 2 (2002)[PDF • 1.4 mb]
- eSwimmer 1 (2002)[PDF • 2.13 mb]
- Swimming South Australia Transgender/sexual athletes policy (2014)[PDF • 155.61 kb]
- Aquatic Facility Engagement Guide (2026)[PDF • 1.24 mb]
- Aquatic Facility Development Guide (2026)[PDF • 1.72 mb]
- Swimming Club Operational Manual (2002)[PDF • 530.48 kb]
- Independent Review of Swimming (2013)[PDF • 1.36 mb]
- Bluestone Review: A review of culture and leadership in Australian Olympic Swimming (2013)[PDF • 1.76 mb]
- Review of Swimming Australia’s GO CLUB PB Inclusion Checklist 2009-2011[PDF • 862.65 kb]
- Review of the governance arrangements in delivering the sport of Swimming in Australia: discussion paper, invitation to comment (2010)[PDF • 215.05 kb]
- Inspire Australia Through Swimming: Swimming Australia Strategic Plan 2025-2032[PDF • 7.37 mb]
- Swimming Australia Swim Well Strategy 2025-2028[PDF • 3.18 mb]
- Swimming Australia Coaching Action Plan 2025-2026[PDF • 1.28 mb]
- Swimming Australia Officiating Action Plan 2025-2026[PDF • 9.5 mb]
- Swimming Australia Sport Growth Action Plan 2025-2026[PDF • 6.34 mb]
- Swimming 2032: Our Decade of Opportunity Swimming Australia Strategic Plan 2022-2024[PDF • 16.59 mb]
- Enrich and Inspire Towards 2032: Swimming Australia Strategic Plan 2019-2022[PDF • 9.83 mb]
- Swimming Australia Strategic Plan 2011-2016[PDF • 1.13 mb]
- Swimming Australia Strategic Plan 2006-2011[PDF • 145.59 kb]
REFERENCES
- Australian Sport, a profile, opens in a new tab, Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism; Australian Sport Commission, Commonwealth of Australia, (1985).
- AusPlay Data Portal: Sport-related participation – frequency of participation, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 15 May 2026).
- Swimming Australia LTD Organisational Information, opens in a new tab, Swimming Australia, (archived 25 August 2006).
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