In the strokes that require that you surface within 15m of the start, does the head itself have to break the surface by the 15m mark or does the head have to surface before the feet reach the 15m mark? I had thought it was the former but just read that it was the latter and am not sure if I should believe it or not. For many swimmers there's an almost 2m difference.
Thanks in advance!
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Former Member
Thanks. I did read the rule and it isn't completely unambiguous. I read it to say the head must break the surface by the time the head reaches the 15m mark, but...
When your feet leave the wall have you traveled 0 distance or have you traveled a distance equal to your height? Does "distance" refer to the distance from the wall or the distance you have traveled?
...it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.
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Former Member
Thanks. I did read the rule and it isn't completely unambiguous. I read it to say the head must break the surface by the time the head reaches the 15m mark, but...
When your feet leave the wall have you traveled 0 distance or have you traveled a distance equal to your height? Does "distance" refer to the distance from the wall or the distance you have traveled?
...it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.
