The FINA rules say no but not considering the rulebook, should Libby Lenton's 52.99 go in the record books. There has been alot of debate on this in the other thread. What do you think?
Parents
Former Member
I am sure it is there but I'm having difficulty finding it, is there a rule that says men and women can't swim in the same heat? I.e. that you are not allowed to run a heat with both men and women. That would bear on the current question.
The debate is not whether LL will get her record, it is whether she should have got the record and if not what implicit rule was or should have been in place to prevent it. FINA undoubtedly has the final say, the question is whether they have created a new rule which is not there in the written rules and not based on a previous precedent. I don't believe the current rules explicitly state the swim does not count, for that to be supportable one needs to read
"The first swimmer in a relay may apply for a World Record."
as
"The first swimmer in a relay event contested at World Championships may apply for a World Record".
I would not support that rule.
Another possible rule would be "Men and women may not compete in the same heat." That is an interesting idea, I don't know.
I am sure it is there but I'm having difficulty finding it, is there a rule that says men and women can't swim in the same heat? I.e. that you are not allowed to run a heat with both men and women. That would bear on the current question.
The debate is not whether LL will get her record, it is whether she should have got the record and if not what implicit rule was or should have been in place to prevent it. FINA undoubtedly has the final say, the question is whether they have created a new rule which is not there in the written rules and not based on a previous precedent. I don't believe the current rules explicitly state the swim does not count, for that to be supportable one needs to read
"The first swimmer in a relay may apply for a World Record."
as
"The first swimmer in a relay event contested at World Championships may apply for a World Record".
I would not support that rule.
Another possible rule would be "Men and women may not compete in the same heat." That is an interesting idea, I don't know.
