The History of Aquatics: 1920-1925.

1920s Swimwear becomes an expression of feminine freedom. Gone are old bathing costumes meant to cover everything (knee-length, puffy-sleeved wool dresses with bloomers, long black stockings and special lace-up footwear). Instead, there are shorter, sleeveless wool athletic tank suits. And bathing caps are introduced to the swimming world, meant originally to protect the women's bobbed hairdos.

1920s Early aboveground pools are made out of a canvas tank supported by steel struts.

1920 Fred C. Mills -- affiliated with the American Red Cross, YMCA and Boy Scouts of America throughout his career -- and Col. John Holman devise the "Buddy Plan," after a drowning accident. The plan, which requires bathers to swim in pairs, evolves into the popular buddy system. In 1925, Mills, head of the BSA's health and safety service, researches attempted rescues and drownings, resulting in the elimination of the "strangle hold" theory of drowning during rescues. Mills' research leads to the BSA revising its merit badge requirements. By 1938, the Boy Scouts develop the "Safe Swim Defense Plan" and its National Aquatic School Lifeguard program.

1922 American Sybil Bauer is the first woman to break an existing men's world record. At a meet in Bermuda, she swims the 440-yard backstroke in 6:24.8, four seconds better than the men's world record. Bauer goes on to win the 100-meter backstroke at the 1924 Olympics and in six years of competitive swimming sets 23 world records. But then she is stricken by cancer and dies in 1927 at age 23. At the time, she is engaged to Chicago sportswriter Ed Sullivan, the future TV variety show host.

1922 "Pool industry father" Pascal Paddock builds his ...