What swimming stroke is named after an insect?

One of the most visually distinctive and challenging swimming strokes takes its name from a delicate winged insect. The powerful, simultaneous arm movements, sweeping forward and then outward, mimic the broad, graceful flaps of a butterfly's wings as the swimmer propels themselves through the water. This evocative name perfectly captures the rhythmic, almost airborne quality of the stroke.

This demanding stroke didn't always exist in its current form. It actually evolved from the breaststroke in the 1930s. Swimmers discovered that bringing their arms over the water during the recovery phase, rather than underwater, significantly increased their speed. This arm technique was initially performed with a traditional breaststroke kick.

For a time, swimmers performed the "butterfly arms" with a standard breaststroke kick. However, the introduction of the simultaneous "dolphin kick" in the 1950s truly defined it as a separate and exhilarating competitive stroke. This powerful leg action, where both legs move up and down together like a dolphin's tail, combined with the sweeping arm motion, makes it one of the fastest but also most physically demanding ways to move through the water.