Infinity Edge Pool at Palacio Del Mar
Ancient Greeks and Romans built artificial pools for athletic training in the palaestras, for nautical games and for military exercises. Roman emperors had private swimming pools in which fish were also kept, hence one of the Latin words for a pool, “piscina”. The first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC.
Swimming pools became popular in Britain in the mid 19th century. By 1837, six indoor pools with diving boards were built in London, England. After the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 and included swimming races, the popularity of swimming pools began to spread In 1839, Oxford had its first major public indoor pool at Temple Cowley, and swimming began to take off. The presence of indoor baths in the cobbled area of Merton Street, London may have persuaded the less hardy of the aquatic brigade to join. So, bathers gradually became swimmers, and bathing pools swimming pools.
After World War I and the departure of “long John” style swimming costumes, interest in competitive swimming grew. Standards improved and training became essential. read more »
