Upsala Simsällskap, also known as the Uppsala Swimming Society, is the oldest swimming club in the world. Founded in 1796 in the Swedish city of Uppsala, it boasts a long and rich history as a center for aquatic sports. Since 1991, Fyrishov arena is the home pool of the club.

The society was founded by the mathematician and astronomer Jöns Svanberg (1771–1851) together with some colleagues at the university as a way to remedy the general lack of swimming skills. The same year the society was founded, Svanberg arranged a mock “graduation ceremony” (promotion), modelled after the academic ceremony, where he and some of his colleagues awarded themselves the master’s degree (magister) and their pupils the degree of bachelor (kandidat) in swimming. The simpromotion and these “degrees” were taken over by other Swedish swimming clubs and are still used in Swedish swimming schools.

In 1910, the club began offering competitive swimming, and soon became one of the most successful swimming clubs in Sweden. The club has produced numerous Olympic swimmers, including Inger Thorngren, who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Today, Upsala Simsällskap continues to thrive as a vibrant swimming club. It offers a variety of programs for all ages and abilities, from beginner swim lessons to competitive training for elite athletes. The club continues to play a vital role in promoting swimming and developing talented swimmers for future generations.

According to the Internet