How Cheaters Cheat in practice and meets might stir up a lively discussion.
Here's the RULES
Swimming Rules
How do cheaters cheat?
Got any stories?
Did they get caught or get away with it?
If you see someone cheating or know they are
do you point it out to the ref or keep quiet?
Former Member
During the 50 Free in my last meet I rolled and jumped the gun on the start. I finished the event and just assumed I was deeked; I figured the overworked starter didn't have time to tell me. I was shocked when I saw my name in 1st place for the event and not DQ'd. I didn't mean to do it! I hope people realized I would have pushed off the block instead of falling like a tree if I were doing it to gain advantage. Anyway this thread makes me feel a little guilty!
Don't feel guilty at all! Cheating by definition is intentional. Not being deeked because the official didn't see/call a mistake is just lucky. :)
At a dual meet that my team was going to easily win, my coach placed me in the 50 free. I never swam the 50 because I was a lousy a sprinter.
Here was a chance at a PR. I planned on trying to time the gun to see if I could break 23 seconds. My timing was a bit early and I remember hearing the gun while in motion. The starter didn't call it, and I squeaked in at a 22.9.
Was that cheating?
I've seen somebody swim under the ropes into the adjacent lane and grab the ankles of the lead swimmer at a USMS meet. Not tellin' names but it was very funny to watch.
I take my swim racing serious. If someone ever did that to me in a USMS meet, I'd be ticked to say the least...and immediately after they did that, they would probably be prying their goggles out of their eye sockets!!
:duel:
I was dq'ed in a 200 backstroke once. The official told me after the race. When the results were posted, I wasn't listed as being dq'ed. I immediately found the official to ask him. He said that he had submitted the paperwork for the infraction.
I informed him that the results showed someone else was dq'ed. He immediately when to the officials table to check. Sure enough, he had wrote down the wrong lane. He thanked me for the honesty.
Don't know if would would track down the official to make sure I got DQ'd like I was supposed to. Probably? Maybe?
BUT, like you did, I would definitely do what I could to make sure no one was incorrectly DQ'd in my place.
Yes, but the statute of limitations has run out. You're good.
Thanks for the ruling. Whew.
Acceptable cheating in swimming seems to fall somewhere between golf and waterpolo.
Is it cheating to apply muscle ointment for the express purpose of increasing the slipperiness of the skin? I've heard different things about this and it was common practice while i was growing up in the sport during the 90's. The only thing mentioned in the rules above (via quick search) is that oil is allowed for rub downs if not deemed "excessive". That seems like a HUGE gray area especially when you consider that you can't even see excessive amounts of the ointment once it's rubbed into the skin.
To this day the smell of myoflex is something I mentally associate with paper suits and tapers.
I guess I've seen relay shenanigans at some USMS meets, but only in unofficial t-shirt relays and such. I don't regard that as cheating since those aren't real events.
How do cheaters cheat?
Got any stories?
I read somewhere something about taking a dolphin kick as you entered the water on breaststroke - because it could not be seen by stroke judges. Seems like it was someone on this board.
