Sport is deeply rooted in the most absolute daily life of our lives. Although the popularity of sports depends on the geographical area in which we find ourselves, several of them have transcended territorial limits and have managed to settle on all continents.
Assiduously practicing sports activity provides a series of physical, mental and psychosocial benefits that help us to form ourselves as people. In addition, the sport adjusts perfectly to all kinds of public, since it is moldable to the needs and possibilities of each individual or group. Therefore, we can enter the world of sports in different ways: as a hobby or hobby, to disconnect from a reality from which we want to momentarily distance ourselves, as a fundamental part of a fitness routine, or in a professional way.
It is difficult to specify figures , since calculating the exact number of people who practice a sport in any of its modalities is a highly complex exercise. However, some parameters can be taken into consideration that can approximate the total number of people who practice it and, in this way, we find that swimming is, in fact, the king of sports.
Swimming: the most practiced sport in the world
Against all odds, swimming captains the ranking in terms of people who practice it; It is estimated that around 1.5 billion individuals swim regularly .
Unlike other sports with greater media influence or economic interest, the percentage of federative tokens in swimming is negligible, hence perhaps we do not consider it enough. However, if we approach the daily life of our environment, we will become aware of the presence of swimming.
Likewise, if we make a brief stop at the Olympic Games (JJ. OO.) We will realize the true influence of swimming; A quick tour through the history of the most important interdisciplinary event in the world is enough for everything to make sense, since the different modalities of swimming tests are the ones that create the most expectation.
Although it requires a certain technique, its practice is available to everyone. And although it seems paradoxical, its popularity is clearly on the rise in countries with colder climates (Canada, the United Kingdom or Russia, among others).
By immersing ourselves in the water and exercising correctly, we openly contribute to developing and strengthening our muscles, promoting mental concentration, improving blood circulation or developing our motor skills. The proportionality of its benefits is gratifying , a fact that, in line with the adaptability of its different modalities, has led to a growing popularity of the sport itself.
Soccer, which could have been our benchmark in popularity, is, on the other hand, the second most practiced sport in the world (1000 million people). Although it is the most popular and influential on the planet – it opens news and has monopolized the sports market – its statistics in terms of practitioners are below those of swimming.
In this way, we can categorically affirm that swimming is the king of sports. In addition to reporting innumerable physical and mental benefits , its practice —individual and collective— has spread around the world and has become popular among very diverse cultural audiences.
