As a follow up to the August 31, 2015 post about Ryan Lochte's now infamous swim in the World's 200 M Individual Medley, FINA has provided an interpretation of their rule SW9.1 (USAS Rule 101.5.2). To see the details of FINA's interpretation, click here.
The interpretation describes what constitutes backstroke during the freestyle leg of the Individual Medley. It says that if a swimmer leaves the wall on his/her back, they are performing backstroke.
Interestingly, if you look at the Frequently Asked Questions attached to the memo linked above, it describes what constitutes breaststroke during the freestyle leg of the IM. You may remember our discussions about this specific rule when a swimmer (actually two swimmers a few years apart at the JCCS Classic) came out of her turn in the 200 M IM and performed a breaststroke kick and a breaststroke pullout at the start of the freestyle leg of the race (the swimmers in both instances were not disqualified). There was a split in opinion as to what point an Official could conclude that the swimmer was swimming breaststroke (i.e. how many cycles had to be completed before one could determine that the swimmer was swimming breaststroke again). Well, the new interpretation indicates that the swimmer is swimming breaststroke if they complete a breaststroke kick and a breaststroke pullout, the fundamental elements of the breaststroke.
Should be some interesting discussions with Dan McAllen at the upcoming AMS Swimposium. If you have't signed up for the Officials Workshop/Luncheon, please take a few minutes to sign up now (click here for the registration form).
Bob,
ReplyDeleteSo if a swimmer does multiple fly kicks off the wall, they are also disqualified?
As per the FAO sheet attached to the memo, this question was addressed.
Delete1. Is a swimmer who leaves the wall in a position at or past vertical toward the breast and performing
butterfly kicks considered to be performing butterfly and thereby be in violation of the rules? NO –
for a swimmer to be considered to be swimming in the style of butterfly, they would have to perform
butterfly kicks as well as a double arm pull and recovery over the water.
I am glad they clarified that the fly kick was still not swimming fly.
ReplyDeleteHowever, what happens if a swimmer does a flip turn (intermediate turn), pushes off past vertical towards the back, while kicking, and then turns almost immediately past vertical towards the breast. This would be fine in a freestyle event, and some kids do this. How many kicks while past vertical towards the back results in a DQ? One kick? This would fit the FINA clarification of moving through the water on the back after leaving the wall.
My interpretation of this clarification (item #2) is that if during a freestyle turn (free-to-free) of a freestyle leg of any IM the swimmer is past vertical towards his breast, there is an infraction and the swimmer is DQ'd. Is that correct?
ReplyDeleteDid they really intend that?
Don't many swimmers come off on their back (ie are towards their back when their feet leave the wall) on their freestyle turn and then rotate in the water onto their breast?
sorry - my post should have read:
Deleteif during a freestyle turn (free-to-free) of a freestyle leg of any IM the swimmer is past vertical towards his breast AFTER HIS FEET LEAVE THE WALL, there is an infraction and the swimmer is DQ'd. Is that correct?