The distance of a standard Olympic swimming race in the freestyle event is 100 meters for sprint races, while longer events include 200, 400, 800, and 1500 meters. The 1500-meter freestyle race is notably the longest distance typically swum in Olympic competition. Swimmers participate in heats leading to finals, showcasing their speed and endurance in the water. Freestyle is one of the most popular and versatile strokes, allowing swimmers to employ various techniques to achieve optimal performance in both sprint and distance events.