Underwater swimming in freestyle

Freestyle is limited to 15 meters just like back and fly. The best times for both back and fly were slower than they are now.

It was lazy of me to not look up the rule myself: SW 5.3 Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface. But the wording of the rule got me wondering, is modern breaststroke, which can involve periods of being completely submerged in each stroke cycle, legal freestyle? Or does it violate "must break the surface throughout the race"?

Originally posted by LindsayNB But the wording of the rule got me wondering, is modern breaststroke, which can involve periods of being completely submerged in each stroke cycle, legal freestyle? Or does it violate "must break the surface throughout the race"? USMS rule book, Article 101.2.2 (Breaststroke-stroke), about halfway in... "Some part of the swimmer's head shall break the surface of the water at least once during each complete cycle of one arm stroke and on leg kick..."

Oops, I missed the part about "throughout the race". But I think that is trumped by an earlier section. USMS, 101.5.2 (Freestyle-stroke)... "In an event designated freestyle, the swimmer may swim any style, except that in a medley relay or individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke, or backstroke. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface..." I read Fritz's next post, and realized that I assumed "head", when it was really "some part".

I don't think it has anything to do with your head going under. Your head could be under but you arm could be over and you'd be legal.

So, the head must break the surface by the 15m mark and some part of the body must break the surface throughout the rest of the race. It still seems to me that completely submerging, as in breaststroke, is not legal. No?

Originally posted by LindsayNB So, the head must break the surface by the 15m mark and some part of the body must break the surface throughout the rest of the race. It still seems to me that completely submerging, as in breaststroke, is not legal. No? I agree.

Who would want to swim breaststroke in a freestyle race anyway? (Unless you needed some seed time for a 200 br, or 400/500 or (gasp) 1500 ...) I can't imagine breaststroke holding an advantage over free. I'd be willing to bet that any good breaststroker would be even faster at freestyle.

The itch to swim breaststroke in a free heat usually occurs in swimmers who have trained/are training for the 200 *** when they discover that the meet does not offer 200 ***, only 200 free. :( Likewise for back and fly swimmers.

If long pullouts are hard, you should work on your lung capacity. there are lots of ways to do it. Try to swim underwater for a certain amount of time. also, blow up balloons. I have astma and have 12 liters of lung capacity. Balloons have made a great difference in my lungs. You should be able to swim 25 yd/meters underwater, at least. As for swimming *** stroke during a freestyle race--Why? It is so much slower & harder.