Experimental and theoretical results on the propulsion of swimrners are presented with an emphasis on the specific characteristics of the wakes produced by the swimmers in the water. We introduce the subject revising sorne of the previous work on the fruitless controversy between Drag and Lift cornponents of the forces induced by swirnmers hands. After presenting sorne experimental results on Underwater Oscillatory Swimrning we discuss in detail the complex nature of the swimrners body, feet and hand wakes and show the role of vortices. Severa! basic recornmendations rnay be deduced comparing animal and human swimming. One is the need to reduce Strouhal numbers to increase propulsion, the other one is to generate wakes that maximize momenturn and rninimize energy, this is di scussed in terms of the fluid topological properties of basic vortical flow configurations.

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