I asked this in another thread but got no reply:
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.
Is modern wave breaststroke, which can involve periods of being completely submerged in each stroke cycle, legal freestyle? Or does it violate "Some part of the swimmer must break the surface throughout the race"? Some people's butterfly might also break this rule.
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Former Member
Regarding the 15 meter rule, in free, back and fly you must surface before 15 meters. Not one breaststroker in the 2004 Olympics exceeded even 13 meters off the turns, and I could not find one example of any exceeding 14.5 meters off the start. These are the best trained and best technique in the world.
The IM rule basically states fly, back, ***, and something other than the previous three strokes. So you can't do *** or fly again. Being the typical "crazy" breaststroker, I have successfully done 25 yards dolphin kick, coming up to the surface just before the 15 meters mark. Then I did double armed elementary backstroke with breaststroke kick, followed by 16 meters underwater breaststroke, and then sidestroke. And I did not get disqualified.
The meet officials all did comment " was this a test" and "I bet you thought we would err and Dq you". We are fortunate to have great officials, and I make sure they have copies of the USMS rules each year!
Now in 2006 when the Worlds will be in the USA, I will do 200 meters butterfly, all with breaststroke kick, just because I can and not get disqualified! I just hpe I can make the qualifyng time by kick alone. I should be able to kick a 3:20 or better if in shape. Getting old, I used to kick 2:50 for short course meters.
The USMS rules are different from FINA and require a arm pull with every breaststroke kick:p
Regarding the 15 meter rule, in free, back and fly you must surface before 15 meters. Not one breaststroker in the 2004 Olympics exceeded even 13 meters off the turns, and I could not find one example of any exceeding 14.5 meters off the start. These are the best trained and best technique in the world.
The IM rule basically states fly, back, ***, and something other than the previous three strokes. So you can't do *** or fly again. Being the typical "crazy" breaststroker, I have successfully done 25 yards dolphin kick, coming up to the surface just before the 15 meters mark. Then I did double armed elementary backstroke with breaststroke kick, followed by 16 meters underwater breaststroke, and then sidestroke. And I did not get disqualified.
The meet officials all did comment " was this a test" and "I bet you thought we would err and Dq you". We are fortunate to have great officials, and I make sure they have copies of the USMS rules each year!
Now in 2006 when the Worlds will be in the USA, I will do 200 meters butterfly, all with breaststroke kick, just because I can and not get disqualified! I just hpe I can make the qualifyng time by kick alone. I should be able to kick a 3:20 or better if in shape. Getting old, I used to kick 2:50 for short course meters.
The USMS rules are different from FINA and require a arm pull with every breaststroke kick:p
