The common format for organizing a swimming championship typically involves a series of heats leading to finals in various events. Swimmers compete in multiple strokes, including freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke, categorized by distance. The competition often spans several days, allowing participants to qualify for finals based on their heat times. Additionally, events may be categorized by age groups and skill levels. The structure of swimming championships is designed to determine the fastest swimmers while promoting fair competition among participants at different levels of expertise.