Should the USA be disqualified in 4X200m Men's Freestyle Final?

Question

At the end of the race Peter Vanderkaay puts his arm into the next lane before that competitor had finished.

This is clearly visible (check the video) and yet no one seems to have seen it. Maybe everybody has been blinded by the USA win.

Answer 1

Why would that make any difference it didnt sabotage their swim. dont be hatin on the USA!!!

Answer 2

No this question is a joke.  The US dominated that race.  

Answer 3

No, this is not an infraction.

Vanderkaay was clearly in his lane. If his arm interfered with a competitor that is still swimming, or his entire body was in another lane, or if one of his teammates entered the water before all of the relays finished (or was given permission to) then yes, the USA should be disqualified.

After the race is completed he can use the lane line for buoyancy. Now had he used the lane line BEFORE he completed the race then it's an infraction where they could be disqualified.

Even if this had been a violation of a rule he would have been warned instead of creating an international controversy.

Good catch though. Hope you enjoyed the race.

Answer 4

Race is over it doesn't matter.

Answer 5

no. that's allowed in most swim meets, definitely the olympics

Answer 6

nahhh,

once he is done it doesnt count.

but if he were still swimmign and touch the lane line or went over it then he might get a DQ.?

Answer 7

As long as he didn't interfere with the other swimmer every thing's fine.

Answer 8

No. Since he had already finished, he couldn't have been said to be making an attempt at sabotaging the other's race.

Answer 9

Yes it does matter. The Australian women's relay team were disqualified for a similar reason, but we wouldn't expect the yanks to accept this and have their team disqualified.