· Facts and figures
· The Dead Sea has so much salt that it is impossible to sink in it. People sit in the water and read. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on land, it is almost 400 meters below sea level.
· In 1896, swimming was one of the sports at the first Olympic games held in Athens, Greece.· Women’s swimming became an Olympic sport in 1912.
· One of the most famous swimmers was the American Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984). He won many gold medals at the Olympics. He became a famous film star, playing the part of Tarzan in many films.
· Mark Spitz of the USA has won more Olympic gold medals than anyone else. In 1968, he won two. In 1972 in Munich, he won seven gold medals and made seven world records.
· Around 1900, surfing became well known around the world. Before that, it was only practiced in Hawaii as a traditional sport.
· Windsurfing is a new sport. It became well known in the late 1960s. The first World Championships were held in 1973, and it became an Olympic sport in 1984.
· Some water-skiers can water-ski without using skis at all. They stand up on the surface of the water using the bare soles of their feet.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
