Competition Format
Swimming is one of the most competitive events of the Commonwealth Games. Heats and finals will be held for each swimming event in the programme over six days. Each country can enter a maximum of three athletes per individual event and one team per relay event.
At Delhi 2010 a total of 56 gold medals were contested in aquatics in the following three disciplines:
- Swimming (44 gold medals - 19 events for men and 19 events for women plus 3 Para-Sports events for men and 3 Para-Sports events for women)
- Synchronised swimming (2 gold medals for women)
- Diving (10 gold medals – 5 events for men and 5 events for women)
Swimming
Backstroke
Events: 50m, 100m, 200m (M & W) When starting, competitors take their place in the swimming pool facing the pool’s wall and holding the starting points’ handholds with both hands. A common cause for disqualification is crossing the 15m line during the glide, whilst still underwater, at the start or at the turn.
Breaststroke
Events: 50m, 100m, 200m (M & W) In direct contrast to freestyle and backstroke, hands and legs must move simultaneously. If the swimmer gets out of sync, he or she will be considered by the judges as swimming freestyle and be disqualified. Another common cause of disqualification is a competitor touching the wall with one hand during the turn.
Butterfly
Events: 50m, 100m, 200m (M & W), 100m Para S9 (W), 100m Para S10 (M) The athlete’s body moves in such a way that it resembles the movements of a dolphin. His/her legs move simultaneously, while the whole body is used to propel the athlete forward. A common cause for disqualification is if the competitor touches the wall with one hand during the turn, or moves his or her legs contrary to the regulations.
Freestyle
Events: 50m, 50m Para (S9), 100m, 200m, 400m (M & W), 800m, 100m Para S9 (W), 1500m, 100m Para S8 (M) Frontcrawl is the fastest of all strokes, however technically, freestyle competitors may use whatever style they think best (except in the medley style, in which athletes must use all four styles). A cause for disqualification is when the competitor, while swimming, touches the neighbouring lane or obstructs another competitor.
Individual Medley
Events: 200m, 400m (M & W) In individual medley events, the swimmer competes in every swimming style, at equal distances. This event combines technique, speed and endurance. The sequence followed is: butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke, with a freestyle finish.
Relays
Events: 4x100m Freestyle, 4x200m Freestyle, 4x100m Medley (M & W) Four swimmers from the same team compete in relays and in the medley relay use all four swimming styles, the sequence being: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. Relay changeovers are valid when the feet of the outgoing swimmer detach from the board at least 3/100 seconds after the fingers of the incoming swimmer touch the wall. If the outgoing swimmer moves too early, his or her team is disqualified.
Synchronised Swimming
Events: Solo, Duet Delhi 2010 featured two events over two days of competition – Solo and Duet with a maximum of one athlete for the Solo event and one pair for Duet event. It will not feature on the Glasgow 2014 programme.
Diving
Events: 1m & 3m Springboard, 10m Platform, 3m Synchronised Springboard, 10m Synchronised Platform (M&W) The diving competition involved ten events over four days of competition. Countries could enter a maximum of three athletes for each individual event and two pairs for each synchronised event.