Has anyone seen this: www.youtube.com/watch
I checked back a few pages and couldn't find any recent posts on this guy from Greece, Romanos Alyfantis. (My current computer won't allow me to open this site due to blocks installed by my employer.) Apparently, he's cheating. Or is he? Has he found a loophole in the rules? Apparently, officials are allowing it. And it sounds to me like he's been doing it for some time. Being an Olympic year, it is bound to be the next big "committee" question.
My question comes from trying to find a loophole in the National Federation of State High Schools Association Swimming Rule Book.
The rule states for the breaststroke kick the following:
"The kick requires the feet be drawn up with the knees bent. The feet must be turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick. All movement of the legs and feet shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane. No scissors, flutter, or downward butterfly kick (developed from a flexing and extending of the knee) is permitted except as provided in 8-2-2c above.
This rule says nothing about an upward butterfly kick. Hmmm. As long as you do not (flex and extend the knee) you can produce propulsion with an upward kick after the legs have been extended at the end of the insweep of the legs. {the point at which you are pointing your toes and streamlining upfront}
I introduced this new idea to my high schoolers and they looked at me like I was from Mars. If you could produce propulsion this way, why would you not try it? Has anyone have an idea on how to fundamentally break it down to allow for younglings to understand this concept?
I am a freestyler that never could do breaststroke due to an unfortunate break of the knee when I was four. So, I am asking all of you knowledgeable evil strokers for help in this "next big thing."
