I attended an open water swim competition this past weekend and about 80% of the swimmers were wearing wrist watches. This meet was USMS sanctioned/recognized as all competitors had to be registered USMS members. None of the approximately 550 swimmers were disqualified for wearing wrist watches. I thought timing devices were not allowed but couldn't find wrist watches specifically mentioned in the open-water swimming rules. Could someone clarify this and/or point me in the right direction as to where this is addressed in the rules.
Parents
Former Member
GREAT QUESTION, GREAT THREAD!
I've never worn a watch during an OW race, but see everyone else (here in Italy) wearing them, and never questioned they may be against the rules. I thought they were wearing them just to know their own time at the end of the race, without waiting for the official results to come out. What do you think of that?
In long pool races we can always see the digital pace clock running, and many people have coaches or friends signalling them. I wish I did, and will in the future, as I tend to go too slow and end the race feeling fresher than when I started it.
Wearing watches in the pool DURING workout is against the rules in Italy, because of injuries which may occur if you hit someone.
Ciao!
m
GREAT QUESTION, GREAT THREAD!
I've never worn a watch during an OW race, but see everyone else (here in Italy) wearing them, and never questioned they may be against the rules. I thought they were wearing them just to know their own time at the end of the race, without waiting for the official results to come out. What do you think of that?
In long pool races we can always see the digital pace clock running, and many people have coaches or friends signalling them. I wish I did, and will in the future, as I tend to go too slow and end the race feeling fresher than when I started it.
Wearing watches in the pool DURING workout is against the rules in Italy, because of injuries which may occur if you hit someone.
Ciao!
m
