What does IM mean in swimming? Explaining the four Individual Medley strokes in Olympics race

The brightest swimming stars are shining at the 2024 Paris Olympics .

France's Leon Marchand and Canada's Summer McIntosh posted dominant victories in the men's and women's 400-meter IM races, solidifying themselves as gold medalists. They both won their respective races by at least five seconds.

It's impressive enough to win by such a wide margin, setting records in the process, but doing so in the 400-meter IM adds another element to the success.

IM races could be particularly more difficult considering they incorporate multiple techniques and strokes into their races. But what does IM stand for and what are the different strokes used in the races?

The Sporting News details that and more below.

MORE: Full results, highlights from Day 3 swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympics

What does IM mean in swimming?

IM stands for individual medley. There are two IM races for men's and women's: the 200-meter IM and the 400-meter IM. Both races are typically included in major competitions.

Individual medleys are different from other races since they require swimmers to use all four strokes in the same race. The individual medleys usually follow the same order for strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

The difference between the 200-meter and 400-meter is how long a swimmer uses each stroke. Each stroke is 50 meters in the 200-meter IM, while it's 100 meters each in the 400-meter IM.

Marchand completed the men's 400-meter IM in 4:02.95 in 2024, setting an Olympic record. He fell just short of the world record, which he also owns. McIntosh won the women's 400-meter IM in 4:27.71. While it wasn't enough to break an Olympic record, McIntosh owns the women's 400-meter IM world record, set in May 2024.

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What are the four strokes in swimming?

Just like every sport, there's a specific technique to swimming. It goes even deeper, however, as swimming breaks up into four different styles or strokes.

The top athlete in one stroke may struggle in another because that's not how they've been accustomed to swimming. There are also races that incorporate all strokes together.

The four strokes are butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. This order is typically standard for all major races, meaning swimmers can't use the backstroke in the third leg instead of the second leg.