Competitive swimming became popular in the 19th century and aims to break personal or world records while beating competitors. Swimming provides a low-impact, lifetime workout that builds endurance, muscle strength, and cardiovascular fitness. The document also discusses Florent Manaudou, a 25-year-old French swimmer who started young with his father as a coach and is now a world record holder with many medals due to his height, strength, and talent in freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly strokes.