Freestyle 自由泳

　　Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. Competitors in freestyle swimming can use any of the unregulated strokes such as front crawl, dog paddle, or sidestroke, etc. Most competitive swimmers choose the front crawl during freestyle competitions, as this style provides the greatest speed. As such the term freestyle is often used as a synonym for the front crawl.

根據國際泳聯的規定，“自由泳”其實是各種非標準泳姿的統稱，包括爬泳、狗刨、側泳等等。但是在自由泳比賽中多數選手會選擇爬泳，因為這種泳姿速度相對較快。因此人們常說的“自由泳”基本就成了“爬泳”的同義詞。