The dolphin kick will be allowed in breaststroke races soon. This will make Japan happy, as will it make a certain university in California vindicated that all of its breaststrokers have been doing that kick for at least 15 years.
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../9740.asp
Personally, I don't want to do it. But of course I'll have to if I want to win against those who have total freedom to do it.
This is the worst rule change ever.
Parents
Former Member
I'm surprised that nobody has said anything about the change in the FINA backstroke start rule. I found a more comprehensive description of all the FINA rule changes:
During the breaststroke start and turns, while the swimmer is wholly submerged, a single downward dolphin kick followed by a breaststroke kick is permitted. The new rule ends decades of controversies (the first one occurred in Berlin, in 1978, at the World Championships, the latest last year in Athens, at the Olympics).
The backstroke finish rule has officially been clarified. Now it is legal for a swimmer to be completely submerged not only during the turn but also during the last stroke.
Also in backstroke, swimmers are now allowed to start with their feet out of the water. It is no more mandatory that “The feet, including the toes, shall be under the surface of the water”.
As one who's had some bad experiences with my feet slipping on overly slippery touch pads during my backstroke start, I actually think this change is welcome (though I suspect it will provide a new way for backstrokers to improve their times, since they will be able to start with their bodies higher and will therefore be able to travel farther before they hit the water).
Bob
I'm surprised that nobody has said anything about the change in the FINA backstroke start rule. I found a more comprehensive description of all the FINA rule changes:
During the breaststroke start and turns, while the swimmer is wholly submerged, a single downward dolphin kick followed by a breaststroke kick is permitted. The new rule ends decades of controversies (the first one occurred in Berlin, in 1978, at the World Championships, the latest last year in Athens, at the Olympics).
The backstroke finish rule has officially been clarified. Now it is legal for a swimmer to be completely submerged not only during the turn but also during the last stroke.
Also in backstroke, swimmers are now allowed to start with their feet out of the water. It is no more mandatory that “The feet, including the toes, shall be under the surface of the water”.
As one who's had some bad experiences with my feet slipping on overly slippery touch pads during my backstroke start, I actually think this change is welcome (though I suspect it will provide a new way for backstrokers to improve their times, since they will be able to start with their bodies higher and will therefore be able to travel farther before they hit the water).
Bob
