I replayed it myself several times. His arm/hand was still moving.
I am a bit confused about the the term "continuous kick." What, are you supposed to take a huge, spread your legs two feet apart, kick going into the turn to make the "continuous kick"? Maybe this silly rule should be changed or more clarification.
P.S. I'm not an official either, I've just been backstroking for 25 years and trying to keep up with all the crazy rules the stroke/start/turns have had over the years.
We still don't know the reason for the DQ initially or the subsequent reversal, other than the judge can't write English or keep his infraction story straight.
Tom - are you saying this judge also worked the 100 *** finals in the same lane as Katijima? If that's the case, then that's pretty much the end of this story.
i don't get the "non-continuos" part of the rule-if you are gliding into a turn aren't you going slower than if you were swimming, thereby only hurting yourself and not gaining any advantage over the field like Kitajima did.
Also I would like to know what country the judge who dq'd him was from.
Austrian and British Appeal Aaron Peirsol's Reinstatement -- August 19, 2004
By Stephen J. Thomas
ATHENS, August 19. FOLLOWING the reinstatement of the gold medal in the 200 backstroke to American Aaron Peirsol, FINA received a written protest from the Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain (ASFGB) and the Austrian Swimming Federation (VOS) regarding the reinstatement of Peirsol.
The Jury of Appeal heard the Referee and the FINA Technical Swimming Commission, after which the Jury of Appeal unanimously decided to reject the protest of ASFGB and VOS as the report of the referee did not show any violation of the FINA Swimming Rules by Peirsol.
Late tonight it appears that the British Olympic Committee were considering an apeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) and would announce their decision tomorrow morning.
The British swimmer James Goddard finished fourth in the 200 backstroke 2.81 seconds behind Peirsol.
A story will be posted as soon as a decision is confirmed.
I recorded the event tonight and have watched the turn very closely. His hand was still moving when he was gliding into the turn. It was a legal turn in my opinion! BUT... I'm not a FINA judge.;)
I think Peirsol was close and he may have had additional thrust after turning onto his stomach but you would have to DQ the other 63 people who swam if you were going to call Peirsol on his turn. The judge DQ’ed Peirsol because of things Peirsol said about Japan’s breaststroker and his dolphin kick. I find it more then coincidental that the same judge was working both lanes in question, on both nights in question. The moron judge should be thrown off the pool deck. This is akin to the officials in the ice skating fiasco in the winter Olympics.
And, for what it is worth...ever single swimmer I have talked to see this as I see it above.
Just for the record while the British team may be officially contesting the DQ reversal; the British swimmer, Goddard, who was briefly awarded the bronze, during the disqualification, is happy with the result.
He feels that he came 4th, did not swim good enough for 3rd and does not want to see Piersol DQ'd.
Funny, I remember 1-2 years ago Matt Welsh causing controversey and being boo-ed at swim meets because he continued to kick through the turn, after his last arm entry. Most observers felt at the time that this was cheating, although all swum into the turn in that way in this 200m race.
In swimming, the goal posts do move from time to time, that is mostly where the stroke changes come from.:)
As one of my first posts.....I would like to input that due to Peirson's hottness factor....he should still get the gold medal.
That said...I missed his swims and can't contribute to anything technical :(
