What is the individual medley, and in what order are the strokes swum?
B · Beginner · The event · 1 of 5In the individual medley one swimmer swims all four strokes in a fixed order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, each for a quarter of the distance. The Olympic distances are 200 m and 400 m. Each section is swum and finished under the rules of its own stroke. In the last quarter, freestyle means any style but the other three.
How it works
- The order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. The rule lists them in that order.
- Equal shares: each stroke is swum for one quarter of the total distance.
- The distances: 200 m and 400 m at the Olympic Games. A 100 m is swum in 25 m pools.
- The start: a dive from the starting platform, since butterfly comes first.
- Each stroke by its own rules: "Each stroke section must be finished in accordance with the applicable rules for that stroke."
- The last quarter: freestyle here means "any style other than Backstroke, Breaststroke or Butterfly".
- On the breast in the last quarter: the body must be on the breast except during a turn.
- The winner: the fastest time, recorded to a hundredth of a second by touch panels on the wall.
Tricky cases
Is the order of strokes the same in the medley relay?
No. The individual medley goes butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. The medley relay starts with backstroke.
Can a swimmer use butterfly again for the freestyle quarter?
No. In a medley, freestyle means any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
In a 200 m medley in a 50 m pool, how far is each stroke?
50 m. Each stroke is one quarter of the distance.
Why the rule exists
The medley tests a swimmer across all four strokes, so the order and the shares are fixed. The same order for everyone means the race can be compared from one swimmer and one meeting to the next.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 1.2; SW 9 |
| World Championships in 25 m pools | A 100 m individual medley is added | SW 1.4 |
| Junior and other events | The programme is set in the same article for each championship | SW 1.5 |
| Medley relay | The order is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle | SW 9.2 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 1.2 to 1.5 and 9. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).