individual medley
Plural
individual medleys
1
a race where a swimmer competes in all four strokes in one continuous race
The individual medley (IM) is a swimming event where a swimmer competes by swimming all four main strokes in a specific order: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. The race starts with the butterfly stroke, followed by backstroke, then breaststroke, and finishes with freestyle. The event can vary in distance, with the most common being 200 meters and 400 meters. The individual medley tests a swimmer’s versatility and endurance, as they need to be skilled in all four strokes to succeed. It is a challenging and exciting race that showcases a swimmer's all-around ability.
- She excels in the individual medley, showcasing her proficiency in all strokes.
- The individual medley requires versatility and endurance from swimmers.
- He trains rigorously to improve his performance in the individual medley.
- She won the individual medley race by a narrow margin.
- The individual medley combines elements of different swimming styles.