Kitajima

I'm not sure it follows that if a pull starts with a separation of the hands then every separation of the hands is the start of a pull. Remember that much of this discussion is based on a claim that Katajima was legal during his semifinal dive, on the premise that he began his arm stroke while his hands were still ahead of his body, either together or slightly separated. I am firmly of the opinion that Kitajima was illegal on his semifinal dive, since I do not believe he initiated his initial arm stroke before his dolphin kick. I contend that maintaining the hands in front of the swimmer, either clasped together or slightly separated, does not constitute initiation of the arm stroke. My latest post was merely pointing out unintended consequences if the simple act of separating the arms was considered the initiation of the arm stroke. If you check the thread, you will see that the proper interpretation of when an arm stroke begins has everything to do with when a swimmer actually begins to pull water. This requires that the hands are grabbing water and moving from the extended recovery position toward the torso, and typically involves the hands being turned inward and / or the elbows bending (especially if the stroke is using the outward and inward sculls). This may occur almost immediately after the hands separate, or it may not happen until the hands separate to their widest point. But it never happens with the arms fully extended in front of the swimmer and the hands together in the glide position.

I'm not sure it follows that if a pull starts with a separation of the hands then every separation of the hands is the start of a pull. Remember that much of this discussion is based on a claim that Katajima was legal during his semifinal dive, on the premise that he began his arm stroke while his hands were still ahead of his body, either together or slightly separated. I am firmly of the opinion that Kitajima was illegal on his semifinal dive, since I do not believe he initiated his initial arm stroke before his dolphin kick. I contend that maintaining the hands in front of the swimmer, either clasped together or slightly separated, does not constitute initiation of the arm stroke. My latest post was merely pointing out unintended consequences if the simple act of separating the arms was considered the initiation of the arm stroke. If you check the thread, you will see that the proper interpretation of when an arm stroke begins has everything to do with when a swimmer actually begins to pull water. This requires that the hands are grabbing water and moving from the extended recovery position toward the torso, and typically involves the hands being turned inward and / or the elbows bending (especially if the stroke is using the outward and inward sculls). This may occur almost immediately after the hands separate, or it may not happen until the hands separate to their widest point. But it never happens with the arms fully extended in front of the swimmer and the hands together in the glide position.