What is the length of an Olympic-size swimming pool?

Swimming has been an Olympic sport since 1896, with the 100-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle competitions being held in open water. Since then, additional events, such as the backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and relays, have been implemented along with an indoor pool. To organize each event and the individual athletes, the pool must be constructed following specific measurements and lane features.

An Olympic-size swimming pool is approximately 50 meters (164 ft) in length, 25 meters (82 ft) in width, and 2 meters (7 ft) in depth. During a swimming competition, each athlete is assigned to a marked lane. An Olympic-size swimming pool usually features eight lanes with two outside lanes used as a buffer zone. Each lane measures 2.5 meters (8 ft 2 in) wide and is marked by rope and buoys on top of the water and a lane line painted on the bottom.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) regulates the design, layout, and overall measurements of Olympic-size swimming pools. FINA creates consistency between different pools to ensure they meet the required measurements and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The committee has a written set of rules that includes every required measurement for the pool. At FINA's 2009 Congress, rules were approved for 10-lane course competition, as an alternative to the more traditional 8-lane course.