The critically acclaimed, unique documentary on the history of a Passion.

What motivates people to dive into a raging sea, into a ice-cold river or into the lanes of a modern pool? This two-part history of swimming furnishes a myriad of fascinating answers to these questions.
In the first part, long-distance swimmers conquer the English Channel, race over 25 kilometres or dazzle with their spectacular movements in the Samurai tradition. Since the Stone Age, swimmers have had to overcome many obstacles: such as fear of the deep, the Medieval ban on swimming by the Church, bureaucratic red tape and congenital illnesses.

In the second part, we see how the stopwatch, the perfectly trained body, the coaching philosophy and scientific research into wave patterns have become the new battle fronts in the swimming arena. From imitating frogs to the streamlined crawl stroke, from the cumbersome Victorian bathing costumes to the water-repellent body suits – the development of the modern swimming star has been full of adventures and unexpected turns.

A new and unique documentary on the history of a passion.
Starring Ian Thorpe, Alexander Popov, Franziska van Almsick, Dawn Fraser, Mark Spitz, Alison Streeter, John von Düffel.