FINA Defines Hand Separation

(via WikiPaintings)

Wondering what constitutes separation of hands in breast and fly?  Don't worry, here comes FINA to the rescue!

Here's what Dan McAllen shared with us today via email:

The FINA Technical Committee met in Bangkok, Thailand on December 6-7, 2013. At the meeting there was a discussion of the term “separated hands” as it relates to the rule adopted by FINA at its August, 2013 Congress.

The discussion resulted in the following interpretation:
“Separated means that the hands cannot be stacked one on top of the other. It is not necessary to see space between the hands. Incidental contact at the fingers is not a concern”

Accordingly, the separated hands in breaststroke and butterfly interpretation issued by me on October 8, 2013 is hereby expressly revoked and is replaced by the FINA interpretation above. A picture of the legal and illegal separated hands position as defined by FINA can be found on the Rules & Regulations page of the USA Swimming website as an attachment to this memo. Below is the link to the Rules & Regulations page and the document is posted under the heading “Interpretations, Legislation & Bylaws.” http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1636&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en