What may a breaststroker do under water after the dive and each turn?
I · Intermediate · The stroke · 1 of 6After the start and after each turn a breaststroker may take one arm stroke all the way back to the legs while under water, and one butterfly kick before the first breaststroke kick. The head must then break the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second arm stroke.
How it works
- One long pull: "After the start and after each turn, the Athlete may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs during which the Athlete may be submerged."
- One butterfly kick: "At any time prior to the first Breaststroke kick after the start and after each turn a single Butterfly kick is permitted."
- Surfacing: "The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke."
- The hip line: this first stroke is the one time the hands may be brought back beyond the hips.
- Then the normal cycle: from there on it is one arm stroke and one kick, with the head up in each cycle.
- No 15 m rule: breaststroke has no 15 m limit. The second-stroke rule does that job.
- Who watches: the turn inspector's watch runs to the end of the second arm stroke in breaststroke, and to the first in the other strokes.
Tricky cases
Can a breaststroker take two dolphin kicks off the wall?
No. A single butterfly kick is permitted.
Does the dolphin kick have to come before the arm pull?
No. It may come at any time before the first breaststroke kick.
A swimmer is still fully under water when the hands start to sweep in on the second stroke. Is that a fault?
Yes. The head must break the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke.
Is a breaststroker disqualified for surfacing after 15 m?
No. The 15 m limit is not part of the breaststroke rule.
Why the rule exists
A swimmer is fastest straight after the dive or the push from the wall. A long underwater pull carries that speed further. The rule allows one. The single butterfly kick was added because swimmers were sneaking one in during the pull and judges could not see it reliably. Allowing exactly one made the rule possible to enforce.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 7.1; SW 7.4 |
| Freestyle, backstroke and butterfly | Any number of kicks under water, but the head must be up by 15 m | SW 5.3; SW 6.3; SW 8.6 |
| Butterfly | One arm pull under water, which must bring the swimmer to the surface | SW 8.6 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 2.8.2, 2.8.3, 7.1 and 7.4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).