Hello! I'm a newcomer to swimming laps, and I'd like everyone's input on a debate I'm having with a friend who also swims.
What is technically a lap?
I say it's based on distance. If you're in a 25m pool - then a lap is down and back. If you are in a 50m pool - then a lap is the length of the pool one way.
He says a lap is the length of a pool.
Can someone solve this battle for us?
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I don't know why this is a debate. The dictionary defines a lap regarding sports as the completion of one full circuit from start to start when there is more than one. Therefore, by definition, a lap in swimming is going down and back, since going down and stopping doesn't return you to your starting position. In track, a lap is when you go all the way around the track, but they still have races that are shorter than 400m. When you do the 100m, you aren't doing one lap and 400m is four laps, you're just doing a 1/4 of a lap. I'm not sure why this is so widely argued.
I don't know why this is a debate. The dictionary defines a lap regarding sports as the completion of one full circuit from start to start when there is more than one. Therefore, by definition, a lap in swimming is going down and back, since going down and stopping doesn't return you to your starting position. In track, a lap is when you go all the way around the track, but they still have races that are shorter than 400m. When you do the 100m, you aren't doing one lap and 400m is four laps, you're just doing a 1/4 of a lap. I'm not sure why this is so widely argued.
