What is a lap in swimming?

That is the question many people have - is a lap back and forth or just one length? If you have been watching the Olympics, when the swimmers were competing in the 400 IM, the announcer mentioned that the competitors had to swim 8 laps to complete the race. Since they are swimming in a 50 meter pool, a lap is the same as a length - getting from one end to the other. Others will say that a lap is returning to the side from which you began (similar to running on a track - a lap is completed when the runner completes a circuit) but generally in professional swimming, a lap is the same an a length which is either 25 or 50 meters depending upon the size of the pool.

well id depends how long the pool is.

in a 50 m pool...

it is just to the other side

or 50 m

in a 25m/25yd pool...

it is to the other side and back

or 50m/50yd

a lap is just forward and back

if you go to the other side it is 50m

if it's forward and back its 100m

n00b