In the 800 free relay, North Carolina State overtakes Virginia in the last 50 yards of the race. (Courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
The celebration begins. (Courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
Courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com
An NC State swimmer who had swum an earlier leg of the relay joins anchor swimmer David Williams in the lane to congratulate him. Boston College, swimming in lane 1, had not yet finished the race. They finished about 23 second after NC State. As a result, NC State was disqualified. (Photo Courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
NC State Coach Braden Holloway discussed the DQ with Head Judge Joel Black to no avail. The DQ stands and UVA is declared the winner. (Photo Courtesy: Tim Binning/TheSwimPictures.com)
In the 800 free relay, North Carolina State overtakes Virginia in the last 50 yards of the race.
Wait, so some people here are saying it is the coaches job to argue a DQ that everyone knows was a DQ? This wasn’t a judgement call on a relay take off or open turn…sounds like it was pretty cut and dry. Yet…it is the coaches job to argue the call? Laughs. What kind of world are you people living in?
A better question is what perfect world are you living in?
Here’s the world I live in … when athletes give me their best I return the favor … the caption clearly says that Coach Holloway was “discussing” the call with the Head Referee – discussion does not in any way infer that he “argued” the call (although certainly many of us might do just that) – irregardless of what verbiage transpired, those of us in the profession with an ounce of passion in our coaching soul would certainly approach the Ref and make absolutely certain that the disqualification was warranted .. I do remember a major backstroke DQ being overturned because the FINA Official inscribed his native French language on the written form instead of the required English…did the kid… Read more »
In 1952 at Helsinki at end of 400 Jon Beautaux’s father jumped in. No rule at that time.
Highest profile case of this happening- the Australian women DQing from the 4×200 free relay at the 2001 world championships.
Course that was the year of ‘There is no problem with the Seiko timing system’ and the gold medal was eventually jointly awarded to the American and UK squads following lengthy arbitration involving the allegedly perfectly functioning timing system.
I don’t think it’s an issue of interfering with the race; it’s just poor sportsmanship.
I’ve only seen one time it was OK to enter the water while a race is going on. Several years ago, I was at a long course meet where a lane line snapped during the 400 IM. The line started snaking and sinking and little plastic pieces were floating around lanes 4 and 5. A couple swimmers on deck jumped in to hold the lane line together, and to keep the debris out of the swimmers’ way.
Anyway, just jumping in because you’re excited is inexcusable. I hope they learned their lesson, but the DQ should stand.
While I agree that there is nothing to argue here. It is the coach’s job to try. Just as they try to overturn every other DQ that doesn’t seem to matter.
Except last year when a Cal swimmer didn’t get out of the water until the 75 of the next girl’s 100 AND switched lanes in panic nothing happened…I hate to see anyone get DQd, but unfair that there is no consistency in judging.
Counter for a 500 fell in (from the bulkhead) and the swimmer was DQ’d.
So it was a bonehead move by an excited swimmer. Doesn’t negate the fact that the relay went 6:19.9 and dropped 6 seconds from their time last year. Legit relay.
I really hope they can get that relay into NCAA’s, so we can see it one more time.
Is it true that the Cavs came over and offered the Wolfpack foursome their gold medals?
True. Several NCSU parents came over to express their gratitude at the gesture and to congratulate the UVa guys on their sportsmanship.
I believe the rule should be amended to allow the Referee the discretion to disqualify if the person who jumps in the pool actually disrupts another swimmer.
In the 1976 edition of the ACC Championships in the old pool at Chapel Hill and at the conclusion of the 1650 freestyle the Wolfpack Head Coach jumped into the lane of the winner fully clothed … likely to create some attention and excitement kicking off the last session … it was a surprise and it was awkward …and I remember looking over at runner-up Rich DeSelm (now head Coach at UNC) expressing an apologetic disbelief …. I am not sure if there were still swimmers completing the event in the outside… Read more »
Disagree. Everyone knows the rule, so no jumping in until heat is over. Pretty simple.
I agree. Maybe it is the rule that needs changing. One tragic flaw of swimming is that it is very slow to change. It has hurt popularity and has deterred people from the sport.