At the U.S. Trials there was one official in every lane looking at the turns, so now that we're in Athens, how does Kitajima get away with that dolphin kick on his turn? It seemed clear to me from the above water shot, then was confirmed with the underwater. Other breaststrokers care to weigh in?
Former Member
Whinning will never make a winner. May be the interpretation of the judge is not the same as we have.
George
Folks,
At the risk of being called a blasphemer...
Kitajima swam a 1:00.07 to win the finals.
Hansen set a new Olympic Record in the semis with a 1:00.01.
Both swimmers went substantially slower than their PR's--World Record times.
Brendan is a class act because he recognized that alleged illegal kick or no, he only had to swim a PR, or heck, even the same time he did the day before, to beat Kitajima. Didn't do it, so he offers no excuses, and focuses on the one thing he can control. Class.
As far as the rules are concerned, all this yammering about illegal dolphin kicks makes my poor freestyler and sometimes flyer head hurt. Let me ask one question: if he has done this before at major competitions, if people have squawked about this before loud enough for even the biggest dunce in officiating to know to look out for it, if there is one stroke judge per lane, is this all a big conspiracy, or do the critics merely misunderstand the rules? The officials in your summer rec league, ooh, I'm sure they are more qualified than the folks working the Olympic Games.
Shut up and swim, and leave the grousing about officiating to figure scamming, er... skating and gymnastics. Oh wait a minute, scratch gymnastics. There has been precious little bitching about marks these Games, so I guess swimming must be more subjective than gymnastics. (Let me pull my tongue out of my cheek, there, that's better.)
Obviously not, but we could all try acting like rational adults in stead of out of control soccer parents.
Matt
Slightly off topic but today I lunched at my favourite sushi bar. All the staff are recent arrivals from Japan, mostly students here to learn English. Anyhow I walked in and hollered Kitajima, all broke out in high fives and I even scored a free chicken soup. Seems he's real big in Japan. Good to see the medals spread around a bit too.
JUDGES DECISION
I swam in a twenty eight mile marathon race, Tom Bucy just touched me out and I came second. Rejean Lacoursiere came in 6th six minutes behind me, the officials placed him second. Worse than that Dennis Matuch from Chicago was placed 6th and was actually third. I asked Johnny to go up and straighten this out, He said JUDGES DECISSION. The results stood Johnny received the second place money and I received third place money. When Johnny said JUDGES DECISION, I wound up and was going to punch Johnny but Dennis grabbed my arm and said don't worry George, we will make sure Johhny doesn't finish any more races this year... We got our prize money from Johhny but in the books he still came second I was third and Dennis was sixth.
Originally posted by Rob Copeland
It looks like Edward is lobbying for a position as a stroke and turn judge at the 2008 Games “many look exactly like Kitaima's kick does”. Maybe the Japanese will submit you as their representative.
It appeared to me and others that in the 100 Breaststroke (from the underwater view) Kitaima's pullout did not comply with FINA SW 7.5 “The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. A scissors, flutter or downward dolphin kick is not permitted.”
To his credit he swam a great 200 in the heats and semis, all with legal turns. It should make for another great finals!
I'm not saying his kick wasn't wrong, just that when they showed his 100s and his 200 and said, here's the difference, the majority of the other swimmers in the pool were doing the same thing and not one thing was said about them. I'd also say that because they were only talking about Kitaima that more people were focused on him, plus he was the one closest to the camera. But if they are going to start DQing people they will have to look at everyone.
a british swimmer got dk'd in the 200 *** for his legs coming apart on the turn. I would say what he did gave him close to no advantage in the race, unlike what Kitajima did.
cheating-To violate rules deliberately, as in a game: was accused of cheating at cards.
I would guess any swimmer who makes the Olympics knows what is correct and incorrect (legal) for his/her stroke.
no he did not get caught-not the same as not cheating
Lets not cry over spilt milk.
Give me a break, Cheating is cheating and Bill Clinton did not have sex with that woman.
Maybe it is OK to cheat where you come from, but my parents and teachers raised me to do the right thing.
Fifty years ago in Japan he would have had to comit suicide for such a disgrace to their country, and that is exacly what it is, a disgrace. All of Japan should denounce him for what he is, a CHEATER. I hope 50 years from now his grand children ask him why he cheated.
I am sorry about your distance race, but that has nothing to do with CHEATING in front of the whole world. Have you ever read the Olympic creed? No where does it say it is OK to lie, steal or CHEAT at all cost to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw the same underwater videos, and did not see anyone with a underwater pulldown and dolphin bad enough to be disqualified, Except for the CHEATER Kitajima. I would bet you would be singing a different tune if a swimmer from Canada lost the Gold medal to a cheater, but we don't have to worry about that happening.
I remember the 1984 Olympics where the Canadian won the 200 ***. Everyone knew John Moffat sometimes pulled down so hard he had a dolphin and a pike to his underwater. He was watched closely and did not do anything illegal.
You know, there are only three countries in the world united against drug cheaters, the USA, Australia and Canada. It seems only the USA is taking a strong stand against stroke CHEATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sorry Bob, but Phil does not say suggests that Kitajima was not the only one he goes on to mention past Olympics and NCAAs, but does not say there were other cheaters in that race with the CHEATER Kitajima.
Whew, Wayne...this Canadian breastroker does agree with you, there is no question that the Japanese swimmer put a big juicy butterfly kick after the start & turns & strangely did not do it in the 200 prelims...the breakdown in officiating though is typical in the olympics. I remember when Adrian Morehouse of UK was disqualified for doing much less in Worlds a few years back.
