Was sprinters 'dive' to win gold legal or ethical?

[righteousdude2]

Okay ... you be the judge. Some of my friends and Facebook acquaintances say this was both not legal or fair. As a former high school referee/official in California, think this was wrong, and that the American should lodge an official protest. I happen to understand from the state H.S. C.I.F regs that this is not only legal, but it was a calculated gambled that won her the gold. So, what are your thoughts on this tactic to deny Allyson Felix of the gold and an Olympic record of four straight golds in the 400 meter.


Watch it here: http://www.foxsports.com/olympics/s...an-sprinters-dive-over-the-finish-line-081516

 

[InTheLight]

Yes, it's legal. Yes, she did anything she could to win. Ethical? I don't think it qualifies for that sort of discussion. It's an athletic event.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Sure it is legal. I have seen people lunge in a number of track meets. In a close race they always lean far forward. What, IMHO, would be unethical if she had leaned down and tripped the other racer.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

No more than the familiar dive for home to beat the catcher's tag

 

[InTheLight]

No more than the familiar dive for home to beat the catcher's tag

Well, that is a bit different. The base runner's objective is to touch home plate without getting tagged out. The MLB rules allow a runner to slide, dive, jump, pretty much anything except bowl over the catcher to reach his objective. (Note: It is illegal for a base runner to jump over the catcher in high school.)

In the sprint, the track runner's objective is to cross a line before anyone else.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

The rules as presented in the clip say the runner's chest must cross the line, not the foot or other extremity.

 

[Rolfe]

Trying to cleanse that photo of the Fingernail-Lady from my mind.

*shudder*

 

[Smyth]

Did the dive really contribute to her win? I didn't think anyone in baseball got to the base faster by sliding. Baseball slides are about dodging tags or avoiding overrunning the base.

If diving really worked in track, why isn't it a common tactic?

 

[Smyth]

The rules as presented in the clip say the runner's chest must cross the line, not the foot or other extremity.

It's already unfair enough that women with implants are more aerodynamic, but they also get an advantage in crossing the line first? It should be the pelvis across the line that counts, not the chest.

 

[Sapper Woody]

My wife and I discussed it, and she came up with a good point. The other runner was ahead until the dive. She was the faster runner, which is what the event was all about. That dive to win proved that the she knew she wasn't as fast as the other runner, and had to resort to (imo) an underhanded tactic to win. The event is a sprint. Not a sprint and dive.

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[righteousdude2]

My wife and I discussed it, and she came up with a good point. The other runner was ahead until the dive. She was the faster runner, which is what the event was all about. That dive to win proved that the she knew she wasn't as fast as the other runner, and had to resort to (imo) an underhanded tactic to win. The event is a sprint. Not a sprint and dive.

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You and your wife are right on! I hope the day comes when the rules are changed to read that the winner must cross the finish line standing upright!.The sprinter and her coach were cunning, and the truth is, she cheated to win a gold! IMO!

 

[JPPT1974]

Yeah as really when you cross the line, you run it and not dive onto it. It is not fair to the other sprinters you know.

 

[righteousdude2]

Yeah as really when you cross the line, you run it and not dive onto it. It is not fair to the other sprinters you know.

And that is why I feel she should file an official protest with the IOC!

 

[InTheLight]

Did the dive really contribute to her win? I didn't think anyone in baseball got to the base faster by sliding. Baseball slides are about dodging tags or avoiding overrunning the base.

If diving really worked in track, why isn't it a common tactic?

It hurts.

 

[carpro]

And that is why I feel she should file an official protest with the IOC!

The way the rule reads, I don't think it will matter.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

It's lower in the article but here's the relevant rule:

Rule 164, No. 2 of the 2016-17 IAAF rulebook states:
The athletes shall be placed in the order in which any part of their bodies (i.e. torso, as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the nearer edge of the finish line as defined above.​

This rule is why you see a runner go chest first through the tape.

 

[Crabtownboy]

 

[Zaac]

My wife and I discussed it, and she came up with a good point. The other runner was ahead until the dive. She was the faster runner, which is what the event was all about. That dive to win proved that the she knew she wasn't as fast as the other runner, and had to resort to (imo) an underhanded tactic to win. The event is a sprint. Not a sprint and dive.

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Track races are about whose torso crosses the line first. That's why runners lean at the tape. It pushes the torso forward.

If you can lunge and get your torso across the line before your competitors, it's perfectly legal and something that advanced runners are taught to do if they need.

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[Sapper Woody]

Track races are about whose torso crosses the line first. That's why runners lean at the tape. It pushes the torso forward.

If you can lunge and get your torso across the line before your competitors, it's perfectly legal and something that advanced runners are taught to do if they need.

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I understand that it's a legal move, and if they appeal it won't be overturned. I do think that moving forward there needs to be some rules clarifications indication that the runner needs to be on their feet, or something similar.

I do still believe, though, that the dive was an admittance that the other runner was the better runner.

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[righteousdude2]

I understand that it's a legal move, and if they appeal it won't be overturned. I do think that moving forward there needs to be some rules clarifications indication that the runner needs to be on their feet, or something similar.

I do still believe, though, that the dive was an admittance that the other runner was the better runner.

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Agreed. It is time that track and field change rules to read that to win, the runner must cross the line standing up! This runner was not the first to dive in order to win a race! In fact several Americans have used this same method in order to win in past Olympics! I think with all the cyber chatter, the IOC may in fact see that it is time for a change in the rules! Let's hope this is the case!