Is competitive swimming a growing sport?

Question

Is competitive swimming a growing sport?

Answer 1

Well a little bit thanks to the success of Michael Phelps, but it doesn't look like it will ever big very popular in the united states.

Answer 2

In general competitive swimming seems to be growing somewhat. Probably in some areas more than others. I know my school's team has really shrunk in the last 10-15 years. Back in the 1990s our school team had over 80 swimmers on it, this last year we had 8. This year we may have up to 12, but its still not growing much around here.

Answer 3

Probably. I know that USA swimming has sometimes claimed it to be the fastest growing youth sport in the nation. I think a lot of sports claim that though, so it's hard to say if it's the fastest growing.

I do know, speaking from the perspective of a swimmer, coach/instructor, that during an Olympic year the number of kids that join swimming skyrockets. Not all of them stick around, but the Olympics definitely does play a part in recruiting kids to the sport. Though I'm sure gymnasts would tell you something similar since their sport also gets a lot of coverage during the Olympics.

My evidence is purely what I've observed, but that is the trend I've noticed.  

Answer 4

coming from a USA swimmer, i get into debates about this with people often, i consider swimming a sport, and i hate it when people say cheer leading is a sport and swimming isn't that annoys me to no end..i would consider it a growing sport because of Michael Phelps, without him and many other Olympic swimmers, swimming wouldn't be as big as it is today, so yes it is a growing sport.