2019 WOMEN’S DIVISION I NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 20th – Saturday, March 23rd
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center — Austin, Texas
- Prelims 9 a.m./Finals 5 p.m. (Central Time)
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Michigan senior Siobhan Haughey, the No. 4 seed in the 200 IM, was disqualified Wednesday morning in prelims with the given reason being that she did multiple dolphin kicks in her underwater pull off the second breaststroke wall.
Her time of 1:53.88 would have made her the No. 7 qualifier of the morning, and her DQ allowed Indiana senior Bailey Andison to make the A-final, and Florida’s Vanessa Pearl to make the B-final.
We have video of her turn from multiple angles, however, and we cannot identify where the official saw multiple dolphin kicks in the footage.
You can watch the full race below, with Haughey in lane 5. Above her in lane 4 is Tennessee’s Meghan Small and below her in 6 is Cal’s Izzy Ivey. Then, you can watch her second turn specifically.
Take a look at Haughey’s second wall for yourself:
This isn’t the first time in recent memory that a high-profile swimmer got DQed for multiple fly kicks. Cal’s Matthew Josa, who also would have been the No. 7 qualifier, was DQed for the same reason at NCAAs two years ago.
We do not have the exact same vantage point that the official had. Without being able to see exactly what they saw, it’s rather inappropriate to villainize this official.
One official’s “villainization” is another official’s “accountability.” If this is the defense that is going to be used, then the NCAA needs to begin installing “official’s vantage point” cameras.
Regardless of what that one official thinks they saw, if Haughey was a DQ, then the swimmer below her should have also been a DQ. This rule is broken.
Ivey in the bottom lane clearly did 2 dolphin kicks. I am wondering if he saw it and was calling her, he called it right after she did it. But what was her judge looking at?!
Why would the judge lie? We are always told to give the swimmer the benefit of the doubt. If they saw it it’s a DQ.
It is clear as day light that the swimmer in lane 5 or below her did two blatant dolphin kicks! What a horrible call to make by an official. They should of checked and confirm before making such a terrible call.
I would sue the hell out of that official!
Lane 5 did not appear to do double dolphin kicks off the turn on the breaststroke leg, but lane 6 most definitely did. Maybe the judge was looking at the wrong athlete…?
This seems like a case where one official in lane 5 turn end is using a different standard for the rule than the others or the officials in lane 6 (since Ivey clearly does multiple dolphin kicks at both ends), are using a different standard. I understand that these are volunteers but this is a swimmer who was robbed. This kind of inconsistency in officiating makes these big meets with officials from a variety of areas each with their own standards for rule enforcement, very frustrating.
Infuriating. No way did she kick twice, only once. Sometimes the motion of the water moves the body slightly but she clearly only took ONE dolphin kick. The other girl beside her however, flat out took two dolphin kicks & should have to answer for that. If in doubt, at big meets like this, there should be a separate room with two judges checking video evidence. My swimmers have been DQ’d & although it may have been tuff, most times they learn from it. Once in Canada my son was DQ’d for going past the 15 meter mark on off the start, during his streamline in 100 Backstroke. We had video taped it, directly over top up in the stands…he… Read more »
A coach protested a call I made once. I was absolutely certain I had seen what I called. The third time the referee came over to discuss the call, she had a question from the coach… “What color cap was the athlete who DQ’d wearing?” “Black… call withdrawn.” The coach saw the same infraction, knew it was a good call, but on the wrong athlete, realized I’d had a mental lapse, and figured out a way to get me thinking about it without attacking me. The swimmer in lane 6 was wearing the black cap, and I had written up lane 7, who was wearing a white cap. I am grateful to this coach for being a true advocate for… Read more »
Lane 6 for sure 2 dolphin kicks!!