Does a freestyle swimmer have to swim front crawl?
B · Beginner · The stroke · 2 of 6No.
How it works
- The definition: "In a Freestyle race, Freestyle means an Athlete may swim any style."
- In a medley: "In an individual Medley race or a Medley relay race, Freestyle means an Athlete may swim any style other than Backstroke, Breaststroke or Butterfly."
- Changing style: nothing stops a swimmer changing style during a freestyle race.
- Standing: athletes "are permitted to stand on the pool bottom" during freestyle events and the freestyle part of medley events.
- Not walking: standing is allowed. The exception does not extend to taking a stride or step from the bottom at a turn.
- What still applies: the wall must be touched at each length, the head must be up by 15 m and the swimmer must stay in lane.
The stroke nearly everyone uses is front crawl, turned with a flip turn.
Tricky cases
A tired swimmer in a 1500 m freestyle stops and stands up for a moment. Are they disqualified?
No. Standing on the bottom is permitted in freestyle.
Can a swimmer swim backstroke for a length of a freestyle race to rest?
Yes. Any style may be swum.
Can a swimmer walk along the bottom in the shallow end?
No. Walking on the pool bottom is not allowed. Only standing is excepted in freestyle.
In the freestyle leg of a medley relay, can the swimmer use butterfly?
No. In a medley race freestyle excludes backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
Why the rule exists
Three strokes are defined by what the swimmer must do. Freestyle is the race with no such definition, so that there is one event in which the only question is who is fastest. The medley version exists so that a swimmer cannot repeat one of the other three strokes in the freestyle quarter.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 5.1; SW 10.2.3; SW 10.2.4 |
| Backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly | Standing on the bottom is a disqualification | SW 10.2.4 |
| The freestyle part of a medley | The body must be on the breast except during a turn | SW 9.3 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 5.1, 9.3, 10.2.3 and 10.2.4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).