LogFAQs > #979152986

opopopza posted...

There was a good post on Reddit from an actual swimming ref that explained why this rule is in affect.

It basically came down to creating excess waves in the pool while others are competing can affect their visibility as they are trying to finish (plus just poor sportsmanship). And the lane dividers can also break easily, you are never supposed to get on them.

He said these are not some obscure rules, basically every swimmer knows you can't do this and you will be disqualified for it. So there wasn't much sympathy for this guy.

I'm gonna question this, only because a "Swimming ref" on Reddit is saying something that appears to be in direct conflict with what... Actual swimming refs/analysts are saying. Did said ref on Reddit actually provide proof that they are what they say they are? Because when it comes to actual provable analysts in the media, they all seem to almost universally "No, this was a dumb call."

EDIT: Thinking about it, the "excess waves" thing doesn't even make sense, since you can create "excess waves" by celebrating in your own lane, which is NOT prohibited. He could have moved in jubilation in his own lane in celebration, which would have caused more waves than what he actually did caused, and there would have been no rule against it. Furthermore, you can cross into another lane WITHOUT causing waves at all, simply by... Going under the barrier. This explanation sounds rather made up.