A ton of controversy surrounded the final of the 200m breaststroke yesterday at the Canadian Trials when Kierra Smith was disqualified for her elbows leaving the water on her recovery.
Smith touched the wall first, but was disqualified after the touch making Martha McCabe of TSC the pending 200 breaststroke national champion. Results were unofficial, and it was said that they’d be announced today at the start of prelims.
It was announced that the disqualification would stand, making McCabe the national champion.
Smith has another chance to make the team tonight in the 100m breaststroke where she’s the top Canadian seed, and second only to Breeja Larson. Smith was a 1:09.02 this morning with Rachel Nicol the second fastest Canadian with a 1:09.04.
Larson leads the charge with a 1:07.76.
Omg. Get your act together Canada. Your fastest breaststroker returns victorious over the Americans and you bend over backwards to tear her down. If Michael Phelps competed with flippers we’d look the other way and give him the benefit of the doubt (and an SI cover). What makes you people so incapable of supporting your champs? Better for us though…USA USA.
Hey america boy, I’m not familiar with that USA USA chant. Probablybly because I only go to Olympic hockey games. I saw the replay, Kierra was robbed.
The politics in swimming will burn another Canadian talent
I believe reference to NCAA is the national champs almost 2 weeks ago. There are way more than 4 officials on deck at that meet!
A clear violation? Absolutely not! I am amazed to watch the ‘circling of the wagons’ and PC in defending the decision. Why does the quality of officiating only reach the highest standards here at the centre of the universe? Are we now to begin looking at the results of the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and NCAA Div 1 Championships and other international events with a questioning eye? Kierra does utilize a different recovery which may
lead to a misinterpretation of an infraction. Furthermore, with all of her ‘splashing’ the visual accuracy will be diminished and thereby complicating a close call. As always, ehen in doubt the
athlete wins out! Clearly, Kierra Smith is currently Canada’s best female breastroker
At some NCAA meets there are a total of 4 officials(other than timers) on deck. There is no way they can watch the swimmers the same way that is possible at meets where there are the full number of officials on deck. What do you mean by ‘circling the wagons’? You are obviously close to the swimmer and I am guessing you are her father so I can understand that you are upset. I can assure you the last thing any official who spends there own time and their own money to travel to officiate at these meets wants to do is disqualify a swimmer unless they are 100% certain that they should. Even then they feel bad about it… Read more »
swimfan – Swimdaddy is not Kierra’s father.
I can feel the passion in your comments! In my opinion, she could have been disqualified in the NCAA’s for the same violation but the call was not made by the overseeing stroke and turn judge. Officials are human and they feel pressure when making stroke & turn observations over a final heat and even more when its the top swimmer in the event. For that reason, I would guess the observing judge had a clear view of the violation before raising their arm and the final review confirmed the observation. The rules apply to all swimmers no matter the past success so just because your a top seed does not exclude you from the rules. Raising your elbows above… Read more »
Unfortunate for Kierra, but she still has a shot to make the Canadian Team in the 100 breast.
She made a strong effort to keep her elbows low in the 100 breast prelims avoiding another DQ.
If the officials are calling this stroke infraction to the letter of the rules and fair play, then perhaps pay just as careful attention to the 100 breast and the 7th place finisher from Cascade.
She splashes a lot, but in the last 25 – 30 meters, her elbows are certainly not below the water in the recovery phase. To me it looked worse than what Kierra was doing in finals where Kierra got DQ’d.
As far as I could tell,… Read more »
Important to note that she seems to lift higher when fatigued – down the stretch. 50m versus 25y pool probably has a lot to do with it. 7 or 8 strokes per length and she doesn’t need to lift as much, versus 20 strokes on a final 50 and by #12 she’s feeling it.
The only controversy was if they would uphold the call…..the violation was clear.
as it should