Swimming Disqualifications Down at Paris Olympics After a Rough Few Years

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were a relatively-clean Olympics, with only 9 disqualifications during the meet – a drop from both the 2021 and 2016 Olympics.

The number was still higher than the only 5 DQs that were called at the 2012 Olympic Games, which in turn was the lowest number since 1964.

SwimSwam statistician Daniel Takata Gomes compiled data on the number of DQs at each Olympic Games back to 1960. In Paris, there were 6 individual DQs, and 3 relay DQs:

Individual DQs

  • Luke Greenbank, Great Britain, men’s 200 back prelims (15 meter violation)
  • Miguel de Lara, Mexico, men’s 100 breast prelims (dolphin kick into the finish)
  • Han An-chi, Chinese Taipei, women’s 200 IM prelims (alternating kick in butterfly)
  • Alex Walsh, United States, women’s 200 IM final (rotating past vertical, back-to-breast turn)
  • Viola Scott Di Carlo, Italy, women’s 100 fly prelims (alternating kick)
  • Nikolett Padar, Hungary, women’s 200 free prelims (false start)

Relay DQs

  • Denmark, women’s 400 medley relay prelims (4th swimmer left early)
  • Italy, women’s 400 medley relay prelims (reason unconfirmed)
  • Spain, men’s 400 medley relay prelims (4th swimmer left early)

Of these disqualifications, several were significant. Greenbank, Di Carlo, and Padar were all likely to advance to the next round of competition, while Walsh finished 3rd in the final of the 200 IM before officials confirmed the disqualification. Most of these disqualifications were not very controversial either, easily spotted with video evidence.

This was a deviation from a relatively-high number of disqualifications that we’ve seen globally over the last few years, with 42 at the 2022 World Championships and 24 at the 2023 World Championships. 2022 Worlds was home to the infamous Ryan Held disqualification, then requalification, for gold in the men’s 50 backstroke that eventually led to a rules change.

The 2022 World Championships were also where 8 disqualifications happened in heats of the men’s 50 breaststroke.

Olympic DQs in Swimming, since 1960

Year Individual Relay Total
1960 6 1 7
1964 1 3 4
1968 4 3 7
1972 8 0 8
1976 8 2 10
1980 5 4 9
1984 12 10 22
1988 14 8 22
1992 19 1 20
1996 6 4 10
2000 13 6 19
2004 9 5 14
2008 4 4 8
2012 3 2 5
2016 3 7 10
2021 9 6 15
2024 6 3 9

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swimswamrocks
4 hours ago

Whoever was in lane 1?8 top the broadcast of the men’s medley was straight up dolphin kicking on breaststroke

Atohitotsu
4 hours ago

The two fly kick DQs were pretty obvious and repeated, and for no benefit. I don’t get how the two swimmers and their coaches let that happen when they had miles of fly in training to sort that out. The other DQs are momentary mistakes and are understandable.

Just Keep Swimming
5 hours ago

I saw a bunch of people online claiming there was video of KD doing an illegal turn too but haven’t been able to find anything but a super grainy photo.

JimSwim22
5 hours ago

In comparison to World Champs we should adjust for number of swims. I would guess that Worlds has at least twice as many total swims if not higher. These Olympics were tiny.

Juan Cena
6 hours ago

The breaststrokers’ pullouts were probably out of frame since they were so close to the bottom of the pool.

Davin
7 hours ago

I don’t know how Justin Ress turned into Ryan Held lol

Joel
Reply to  Davin
6 hours ago

I was about to say that. The most undeserved gold medal when he should have been DQed THREE times was Ress not Held.

Andrew
7 hours ago

Liendo should’ve gotten Deaqed for a one hand touch in the 100 fly final.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GUE-1qsWcAAMt8m?format=jpg&name=large

SwammaJammaDingDong
Reply to  Andrew
6 hours ago

Watch the replay of Marchand’s start during the semi-final of the 200 IM. That should have been the biggest DQ of the year.

Facts
Reply to  SwammaJammaDingDong
6 hours ago

Idk going 2m past the 15m mark seems the most egregious. Officials were really doing their best Angel Hernandez impression this Olympics

Last edited 6 hours ago by Facts
Scott Bonney
7 hours ago

When was the last time, before Alex Walsh, that a DQ cost someone an individual olympic medal ?

Facts
Reply to  Scott Bonney
7 hours ago

Not sure about the Olympics but remembered when Rapsys false started in the world champs 200 free which cost him gold

sadswammer
Reply to  Facts
7 hours ago

That was when sun yang yelled at D Scott right?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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