Schwimmsport

Swimming: E. von Pfuel (1779-1866), a Prussian officer who was working for Austria, introduced swimming lessons to Austria and founded the first military swimming school in Prague in 1810 (special teaching methods). Swimming schools were opened in Klosterneuburg, Vienna and Graz before 1850. In 1887 the First Vienna Amateur Swimming Club (EWASC) was founded, which held championships in 1888 and produced the first Austrian Olympic champion, P. Neumann. The "Austrian Swimming Committee", the predecessor of the "Association of Austrian Swimming Clubs" (VÖS), was founded in 1899. After 1900 swimming was made popular through the "Vienna Workers´ Swimming Club" (founded in 1909); the same organisation also built swimming pools, gave lessons, organised competitions and founded a life-guard service in 1930. In 1994 the VÖS, responsible for competitions in all swimming disciplines in Austria, had over 75,000 members in 166 clubs.