Australian crawl

swimming

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The Australian crawl is a swimming stroke, specifically a type of crawl stroke. It is also known as a two-beat crawl. This stroke has become the fastest and most popular choice for covering distances in competitive swimming.12

The crawl stroke was popularized by Australian swimmers in the early 20th century. In this stroke, the swimmer lies face down in the water. The arms move alternately, providing continuous propulsion, while the legs perform a fluttering up-and-down motion. Breathing is achieved by turning the head to the side as an arm recovers. The crawl has been the most frequently used stroke in races since 1896.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Charles Daniels
…pioneered a modification of the Australian crawl that emphasized the use of the whole leg and synchronized six kicks for every two-arm cycle. He was inducted into both the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (1988) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1965).
Read More
…pioneered a modification of the Australian crawl that emphasized the use of the whole leg and synchronized six kicks for every two-arm cycle. He was inducted into both the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (1988) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1965).
Read More