What may a swimmer do in the freestyle part of a medley?
I · Intermediate · The event · 1 of 7In the freestyle part of a medley the swimmer must be on the breast, except during a turn. They may leave the wall on the back, but may not kick until they have turned past vertical onto the breast. Any style may be swum other than backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
How it works
- On the breast: "during the Freestyle section, the Athlete's body must be on the breast, except when executing a turn".
- Before any stroke or kick: "The Athlete must return to the breast before any kick or stroke."
- Off the wall: "Leaving the wall on the back during the Freestyle section is permissible".
- No kicking on the back: "no kicking action is permitted until the Athlete has returned past the vertical to the breast".
- Then anything: at that point kicking, "including one or more Butterfly kicks", may begin.
- The style: any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
- The usual limits: the head must be up by 15 m, and the wall must be touched at each length and at the finish.
Tricky cases
A swimmer does a tumble turn in the freestyle section and comes off the wall on the back. Is that a fault?
No. Leaving the wall on the back is permitted.
The same swimmer takes two dolphin kicks before rolling over. Is that a fault?
Yes. No kick is permitted until the swimmer has returned past vertical to the breast.
Can a swimmer use dolphin kicks under water in the freestyle section once they are on the front?
Yes. One or more butterfly kicks may be used after the swimmer is past vertical towards the breast.
Can the freestyle section be swum as backstroke?
No. Backstroke is excluded, and the body must be on the breast.
Why the rule exists
Swimmers found they could push off on the back in the freestyle section and kick under water for 15 m in a position that was, in effect, backstroke. That gave them a second helping of one stroke. The rule lets a swimmer come off the wall whichever way the turn leaves them and stops the kick until they are no longer on the back.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 9.3; SW 5.1 |
| A freestyle race | Any style at all, on the front or the back | SW 5.1 |
| Standing | Standing on the bottom is permitted in the freestyle part of a medley | SW 10.2.4 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 5.1 to 5.3, 9.3 and 10.2.4. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).