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More Breaststroke Dolphin Kick Controversy -- October 26, 2007
ATHENS, Greece, October 26. IF you think the dolphin kick of Japan's Kosuke Kitajima at the 2004 Olympics was bad, wait until you see the efforts of Greek breaststroker Romanos Alyfantis. Simply put, the Greek swimmer is violating the FINA rulebook with each stroke. And, officials have been allowing Alyfantis to get away with it.
As a refresher, the 100-meter breaststroke final at the Athens Games will be remembered more for its controversy than for the gold medal that went to Kitajima over American Brendan Hansen. Although the dolphin kick was illegal at the time, Kitajima blatantly used the maneuver off the start and turn and beat Hansen to the wall. In part, Kitajima's efforts - along with those of some others - convinced FINA to change the rules and allow a single dolphin kick off the start and turn.
However, the Greek swimmer in question, as the video shows, utilizes a dolphin kick throughout his race. Yes, the whole way. He has clocked a best time of 1:00.37, more than a second off the world record of Hansen, but a quality time nonetheless. And, considering only three men in history have cracked a minute in the event, Alyfantis would be a medal contender in international competition if he eluded disqualification for his tactics.
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The FINA rulebook clearly states that the breaststroke requires outward-turned feet leading into the kicking motion of the stroke.
Alyfantis clearly dolphin-kicks with every stroke. Again, go to the video.
Let's hope in the upcoming months, or whenever the Greek is in action, he'll be called for a violation by the officials overseeing the meet. With the Olympics approaching quickly, there's no room for this charade to again rise up.
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Reaction Time Comments
October 26, 2007 I cannot believe that the video is of an elite level swimmer (Alyfantis) in a major race. It must be a hoax. If it isn't, there is a serious problem with officiating wherever that meet was held. The swimmer shown was doing a drill I call "breaststroke pull with fly kick"
Submitted by: swimsmart
October 26, 2007 In the September issue of Swimming World Magazine on page 35, Jozsef Nagy, coach of Mike Barrowman and pioneer of the wave breaststroke predicted that this style of swimming will be the future of breaststroke. All that the athlete needs to do is slightly turn out the ankles to be legal. This guy is close to making Nagy's prediction come true. Submitted by: Yikes
October 26, 2007 An official who can't tell that this swimmer has got some illegal backside motion going on shouldn't be officiating at the local YMCA, much less at the elite level. It's so blatant from any angle you see it. So shouldn't we be asking when FINA will take responsibility and find a solution that respects and protects the competitors who are operating under the rules of fair play? The governing body of the sport holds ultimate responsibility for allowing this to continue 3 years after crowning a cheater in Athens an Olympic Champion. Beijing breaststroke events will be a joke without better officiating and video review. Submitted by: Michelle
October 27, 2007 According to other posts I have read, this style of flying breaststroke was rampant at the NCAA DivisionII Championships as well. It is insane that the coaches, teammates and officials are allowing this to continue. This Italian meet and the NCAAs were months ago. I am glad this is still (or again) being discussed openly. Hopefully the officials who didn't notice it during those meet will see it now and keep their eyes open for it.
There has never been more proof than this that underwater cameras are necessary for Championship meets. First Kitajima, then Jedrzejczak just to name a few whose Championship antics have escaped the officials eye. I know something like a one handed touch on a finish in butterfly, or a couple of kicks on the pullout in breasstroke can be viewed as an "error", but if spectators can see it and cry foul, the officials should have the same advantage. As well as the courage to DQ. Submitted by: laurenish
October 27, 2007 There was a swimmer in the girl's 100 breaststroke at NCSA Juniors who was fly kicking the entire way, first in prelims and then in finals, of her race... no call either time. She was 2 lanes away from the official! Submitted by: beachbum
October 27, 2007 It will be disappointing if FINA reacts by again changing the rules - the stroke will deteriorate to a modified fly. One of the wonderful aspects of breaststroke is the ability to create unique and individual styles legally. Submitted by: labcswmn
October 31, 2007 The real tragedy is that this isn't being addressed until now, at least on swimnews.com and this site. Way back in December 2005 at the European Short Course Championships in Trieste, Italy, Alyfantis won a silver in the 100 breast with a time about 6 tenths off the world record and only 1/100 off the gold (Oleg Lisogor). The crowd booed loudly when he received his medal. That's 2 years ago. Next year we have that "minor" competition where officiating is a joke (Kitajima and Peirsol's 200 back which was luckily reversed) called... the Olympics. When are we gonna start either using underwater cameras or actually have qualified officials instead of random calls like the Alexandrov prelim travesty at NCAA's? Submitted by: swummer54
October 31, 2007 Swummer54,
We recently had an interview with Carol Zaleski, a past president of USA Swimming and a current vice chair of the FINA Technical Committee. Premium subscribers can watch the interview as part of our October issue.
They tested out an "instant replay" system while in Indianapolis. Carol sheds some light on the process.
It looks like FINA is working on getting a system that would work within the confines of a swim meet. Submitted by: Jason Marsteller
November 2, 2007 But FINA has said they won't have it in place in time for Beijing which I don't understand at all. They've had years to work on this, what is the hold up? Breaststroke will be the Ice Dancing of Beijing if FINA continues to look the other way and drag their feet on video review and rule enforcement. I'd like to see you guys write more about what is being done and when it will be implemented. Submitted by: Michelle
November 14, 2007 I watched a coach in Idaho Falls instruct his kids do the breast/fly combo during practice for a good 10 minutes. When they get in a meet they are very subtle, but they are doing it. One of these kids just set a high school record!! Submitted by: Swim
November 15, 2007 The breast stroke arms, butterfly kick is a legitimate training set along with breast stroke arms and freestyle kick. It should not be automatically assumed the coach is teaching the kids to cheat or that the kids are doing so in a meet. Submitted by: SwimParent
November 19, 2007 I can't believe those stroke judges are so gutless.There is no way to miss that he was cheating.Breaststroke has been separated from fly for over 50 yr for a reason.I am just afraid the judges will say"it's just too hard to tell if their kick is legal,lets just legalize the dolphin kick (so we don't have to pay attention to do our job.)" Submitted by: Allen
November 21, 2007 It seems that Romanos Alyfantis and Asterios Kalyvas were both disqualified in the heat of the Berlin World Cup recently. I am going to assume it was for illegal kicks. Hopefully, this is the shape of things to come. Submitted by: laurenish
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Swimming World Magazine or SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
Reaction Time is provided as a service to our readers.
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