How must a backstroker touch at the finish?
B · Beginner · The stroke · 5 of 6At the finish the backstroker must touch the wall while on the back. They may not roll onto the front as they would for a turn. Once the head has passed the 5 m mark, the swimmer may be completely under water while reaching for the wall.
How it works
- The rule: "At the finish of the race, the Athlete must touch the finish wall while on the back."
- Under water at the end: "When reaching for the finish wall, it is permissible for the Athlete to be completely submerged once his/her head has passed the 5 metre-mark."
- Before the 5 m mark: some part of the body must be above the surface, as in the rest of the race.
- The roll limit still applies: on the back means a roll of less than 90 degrees from horizontal.
- Any part: the rule does not ask for a hand. In practice the hand arrives first.
- The flags: 5 m from the wall, so that the swimmer knows where the wall and the 5 m mark are.
Tricky cases
A backstroker rolls onto their front to see the wall and touches with one hand. Is that legal at the finish?
No. The finish must be touched while on the back.
A swimmer goes completely under water 7 m from the wall and stays under to the touch. Is that legal?
No. Submerging to the finish is allowed only once the head has passed the 5 m mark.
A swimmer touches while tilted well over on one shoulder. Is that on the back?
It depends on the angle. A roll up to, but not including, 90 degrees from horizontal still counts as on the back.
Why the rule exists
The finish is the last check that the race was swum as backstroke. The allowance to go under in the final 5 m was written in because swimmers lunging for the wall were dipping below the surface and being disqualified for something that gained them nothing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 6.5; SW 6.2; SW 6.3 |
| At a turn | The swimmer may roll onto the breast before the wall | SW 6.4 |
| Freestyle | Any touch, in any position | SW 5.2 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 6.2, 6.3 and 6.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).