Swimming / Topic 05
Backstroke
World Aquatics · 2026In short
Start and body position · Turns and finish
Start and body position
The swimmer starts in the water facing the wall, holding the grips with both hands. When using a backstroke ledge, at least one toe of each foot must touch the wall or touchpad. Swim on the back; body roll is allowed but must remain below 90 degrees from horizontal outside the turn.
Turns and finish
During a turn, the shoulders may rotate past vertical towards the breast, followed by an immediate continuous single arm pull or simultaneous double arm pull to initiate the turn. Some part of the body must touch the wall. Leave the wall on the back and finish by touching the wall while on the back.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent explanations of the supplied World Aquatics Competition Regulations, February 2026. This guide covers pool swimming only, not other aquatic disciplines. References use PDF viewer page numbers; topic numbers are editorial.
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