1 Lap in Swimming

1 Lap in Swimming: What It Means and How Far It Is

Ask a few swimmers how long 1 lap in swimming is and you may hear different answers. Some count one trip across the pool, while others count there and back. Here is what each term means, how far a lap is in a 25-metre or 50-metre pool, and how to keep count during your swim.

1 lap in swimming is one length of the pool, from one wall to the other. Merriam-Webster defines a lap as one traverse of a course such as a swimming pool. Some recreational swimmers count there and back as a lap instead. In a 50-metre pool, one length is 50 metres, and in a 25-metre pool it is 25 metres.

Lap vs Length: Two Ways to Count

A length is one trip from one end of the pool to the other. The distance stays the same every time, because it is set by the size of the pool.

A lap is where swimmers differ. Merriam-Webster describes a lap as one traverse of a course such as a swimming pool, so on that definition 1 lap and 1 length match. Some recreational swimmers borrow the running track idea and count a lap only when they return to their starting wall, which equals two lengths. Before a set, agree with your coach or swim buddy which one you are using.

How Far Is 1 Lap in Swimming?

The distance of 1 lap in swimming depends on the pool. Competition pools come in two standard sizes: long course pools of 50 metres and short course pools of 25 metres (Olympic-size swimming pool).

Counted as one length, a lap is 50 metres in a long course pool and 25 metres in a short course pool. Counted as there and back, the same lap becomes 100 metres or 50 metres. Condo and hotel pools come in many sizes, so check the length with the management before you work out your distance.

Laps in Singapore Public Pools

Jurong West Swimming Complex was the first swimming complex in Singapore with a sheltered Olympic-sized pool, so one length of its competition pool is 50 metres. The complex is at 20 Jurong West Street 93.

Training and teaching pools vary in size. If you swim in one of these, look at the lane markings or ask the counter staff for its length, then count your distance from there. Our guide to Singapore’s public swimming pools lists the pools by area.

How Many Laps Make Common Distances

Counting a lap as one length, here is how common distances work out. In a 50-metre pool, 100 metres is 2 laps, 500 metres is 10 laps and 1 kilometre is 20 laps. In a 25-metre pool, the same distances take 4, 20 and 40 laps.

This also answers a common question. 20 laps is 1 kilometre in a 50-metre pool and 500 metres in a 25-metre pool. If you count there and back as a lap, double each distance.

How to Keep Count While You Swim

Keeping count gets harder as your swims get longer, and a few simple habits help.

Count each length as you touch the wall, and repeat the number in your head as you push off. Break a long swim into sets, such as five sets of four laps, so each set is easy to track. A waterproof lap counter or a sports watch with a swim mode can also keep count for you.

How Many Laps Should a Beginner Swim?

Comfort comes first, and distance follows. A good start for an adult beginner is a few lengths at a steady pace, with a rest at the wall after each one, adding a length or two each week.

For a fuller plan, our guide on how many laps in a pool is a good workout explains how to build up. Smoother freestyle technique also helps you swim more lengths with less effort.

Build Your Distance With a Coach

A coach helps you swim further by improving your breathing and body position, two areas that make a big difference to how far you can swim. HydroSplash lessons take place at public pools and condo pools across Singapore, for adults and children.

WhatsApp us your current level and the distance you would like to reach, and we suggest a lesson plan that fits.