Which statement defines stroke length in swimming?

• A. Stroke Length Equals Distance Per Minute
• B. Stroke Length Equals Distance Traveled Per Minute
• C. Stroke Length Equals Speed
• D. Stroke Length Equals Distance Per Stroke

Answer: (D)

Stroke length is the distance you travel forward with each stroke. In swimming, your overall speed comes from two factors: how often you stroke (stroke rate) and how far you move each time you stroke (stroke length). Because speed equals stroke rate times stroke length, stroke length is defined as distance per stroke.

If you swim a set distance and count how many strokes you take, stroke length = distance ÷ number of strokes. For example, swim 50 meters and take 40 strokes; your stroke length is 1.25 meters per stroke.

The other ideas describe speed (distance per time) or distance per minute, not distance per stroke, so they don’t define stroke length.