The individual medley (IM) is one of swimming’s toughest and most rewarding events. Unlike single-stroke races, medley swimming tests your mastery across butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle — plus the precision of three transitions. In this article, I break down the official individual medley order, explain how it differs from the medley relay order, and share coaching tips for smoother turns and smarter training. Whether you’re chasing your next PR or curious about the 200m individual medley world record, you’ll learn how to build complete swimming performance and race the IM with more confidence.