Why are there so many swimming events?

Question

Why are there so many swimming events?

Answer 1

Well there are 4 different styles, several different lengths, men and women, relays, you do the math!

Answer 2

I don't know why there are so many for swimming and not land sports.  The butterfly?  really?  why don't we just make a new event and call it to 100M hop for runners.  There should be one event and it should be "who can get to the end the fastest.  If we brought swimming events to runners we would have to have to 1) 100m Race 2) 100 metre hop 3) 100m running backwards 4) 100M while skipping.  It seems a bit ridiculous to have so many events because there are different styles.

Answer 3

there always has been. phelps is so great right now that its being more public.