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Emre Sakci Disqualified (Again) In Men’s 50 Breast Semis After Posting Top Time

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Turkey’s Emre Sakci was disqualified for the second time during Day 5 finals at the 2021 Short Course World Championships, getting called for an infraction in the men’s 50 breaststroke semi-finals after producing the top time in the field.

Sakci, 24, initially put up a time of 25.52 in the first semi of the men’s 50 breast, which would’ve held up as the top time heading to the final had he not been DQed.

While the reason for the disqualification was not revealed, Sakci was one of 13 swimmers DQed in a breaststroke session during the first session of the meet, a result of the new underwater cameras that are being used for just the second time with the ability to initiate infractions (with the Tokyo Olympics being the first).

Alia Atkinson, who, like Sakci, posted the top time of the semis, was disqualified in the women’s 50 breast on the first day of competition as well.

FINA Technical Swim Commitee Chair Carol Zaleski told SwimSwam that most of the breaststroke disqualifications on Day 1 were due to swimmers using a downward dolphin kick into the turn or finish of the race.

World record holder Ilya Shymanovich won the second semi of the men’s 50 breast in 25.55 to qualify first into the final, followed by American Nic Fink (25.68) and Italian Nicolo Martinenghi (25.87).

Sakci’s best time of 25.29 is just .04 slower than the world record held jointly by Shymanovich and South African Camron van der Burgh (25.25).

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Coach CG
2 years ago

Show us the videos. These same athletes went through Tokyo and ISL without being DQ’d. The breaststroke kick has evolved to a turned-out-toe dolphin action. When we looked at the Lilly king video there was no DQ. Good job turn people off the sport again FINA.

Awsi Dooger
2 years ago

It seems like the vast majority of these infractions are when the final stroke is short and cramped to the wall. Not much of a benefit. I think the entire body including legs are condensing given the situational reality. The swimmer’s legs may technically dolphin but it’s just like suddenly pulling the reigns on a horse. You can’t expect anything to look like a few strides earlier. Mostly a ridiculous application, IMO. Rowdy on replay analysis was looking for feet to surface after the hands had already contacted the wall.

HJones
2 years ago

At least there is no “Dolphandrew”–dude barely does a kick on his pullout anyway.

Anonymoose
Reply to  HJones
2 years ago

he barely does kicks when swimming fly lol

Chlorinetherapy
2 years ago

Any chance of SwimSwam doing interviews with any of the swimmers who were disqualified to get their thoughts on all of the DQs? Maybe in a week or.so once the initial emotions have worn off?

Splash
Reply to  Chlorinetherapy
2 years ago

Castiglioni commented on her two DQs in the article saying she agreed with the first one but the second one she didn’t.

Mr Piano
2 years ago

Glorious lmao. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see an entire final get disqualified?

TX Swim
2 years ago

about time. Is there video where we can view all these infractions?

Anonymous
2 years ago

About time! Plenty finalist swimmers over the last two decades have been doing illegal fly kicks on the start and off the wall on almost every turn. Start and turn judges aren’t able see it due to the distortion of the water. Ilya Shymanovich stroke should also be reviewed from technical perspective as well, barely looks like breaststroke.

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

This is nothing. Still the best all-time double DQ was the NC State men’s 400 free relay at NCAAs a while back, where they got DQ’d in the prelims for a false start after qualifying first, argued the call and got reinstated in the final, and then got DQ’d in the final for a false start when they were winning by a mile and going to break the record.

thezwimmer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

I think that was a 200 free relay, but the point still stands

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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