How to play 50m Swim
Here’s how to play the 50m Swim: a free, old-school button-bashing track and field game in your browser. Alternate the left and right pads for each stroke and race the Beat Pete characters over one length of the pool, all the way up to Pete himself. There is a catch: you have to breathe.
Every stroke uses some of your air, and the harder you thrash, the more it costs. Tap the middle BREATHE pad to come up for air: it refills your meter, but your head comes up, your strokes stop for a moment and you slow right down. Below you’ll find the full rules, tips and some common questions.
The basics
One length of the pool, flat out, against the characters. Stroke as fast as you can, but you can’t hold your breath for fifty metres.
Swimming
- Tap left, then right, then left… Every alternating tap is a stroke and gives you a push. The same side twice is a splash and slows you.
- A steady rhythm pushes harder than ragged tapping.
- The stroke-rate gauge has a blue tick. Stroke faster than that and your strokes slip: each one pushes less, so thrashing isn’t quicker.
- Phones and tablets only. Keys are far quicker than thumbs, so Track & Field isn’t playable with a keyboard or mouse. That keeps every record fair.
Air
- Every stroke uses some air, and the faster you stroke the more each one costs.
- Tap the middle BREATHE pad to come up for a breath. It refills part of the meter, but your head is up for a moment: your strokes don’t count, you drag, and your rhythm is gone. You can’t breathe again straight away.
- Swim on an empty meter and your strokes lose a lot of their push. Breathe too often and the head-up time adds up. The best swims take as few, and as well-timed, breaths as possible, and none at the very end.
The start
- “On your marks… set…” then the gun, after a random wait. A tap before the gun, or within a tenth of a second of it, is a false start. The second false start disqualifies you. Your first stroke after the gun is the dive, so a quick reaction pays.
The ladder
- You race one of the ten characters, from level 1 up to Pete. Beat a character to unlock the next. Four more swimmers fill the other lanes, six of you in all, and your finishing place is shown too.
Times
- Your fastest winning time goes on the leaderboard, to the hundredth of a second. The world record is 20.91 s, and the server won’t accept anything under 20.95 s.
Beginner tips
- Breathe as few times as you can. Two well-timed breaths in the 50 metres beat one breath too few or five too many.
- Don’t breathe while your air is still high: the refill is capped, so an early breath is wasted. The BREATHE pad glows when you are running low.
- Keep your stroke rate under the blue tick. Thrash faster and each stroke slips, so it doesn’t make you quicker, it only burns air.
- Skip the breath in the last few metres: you can finish on what is left, and a breath at the end only costs you time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play the 50m Swim on a phone?
Tap the left and right pads with your thumbs for each stroke, and the middle BREATHE pad to take a breath. The game is for phones and tablets only, because keys would be far quicker and records wouldn’t be fair.
What does the air meter do?
It drops with every stroke, faster when you stroke faster. Tap BREATHE to refill part of it. If it runs empty your strokes lose a lot of their push and you drag in the water.
What is a false start?
Tapping before the starting gun, or within a tenth of a second of it. The first one restarts the race; a second disqualifies you. Your first stroke after the gun is the dive.
How fast can you swim the 50m?
A well-judged swim gets you into the low 21s, which is about where Pete swims. The world record is 20.91 s, and the game won’t accept anything faster than 20.95 s.
How is it ranked?
By your fastest winning time, to the hundredth of a second. You win by finishing ahead of the character you chose to race.
Is the 50m Swim free?
Yes. It’s free to play in your browser, with nothing to download.
Ready to play 50m Swim?
It’s free and works in your browser — no download. Start against Trevor, the friendliest opponent, and sign up free to climb the ladder of ten computer players all the way to Pete.
Play 50m Swim now