In addition to the basic questions that we will discuss here, Mireia Belmonte will be able to tell you in this chapter why it is important to be aware of the laws that regulate the discipline in which you participate.
Each sport is regulated by rules whose primary objective is to guarantee fairness among its participants. In the case of swimming, the regulation raises several issues to consider, as well as the implementation of the doping law. Mireia Belmonte tells us all about it.

Not only is it enough to swim well to consider yourself a good swimmer. An athlete must be attentive to every detail, and this, of course, includes the rules that regulate the activity in which he participates.
How many times have you seen that even professional athletes themselves are unaware of certain issues in the game in which they participate? This detail denotes a certain lack of commitment to his discipline that, in front of his colleagues and spectators, does not give the best image.

Therefore, it is better to be well informed and know up-close what we are allowed to do and what not. Furthermore, this is the best way to avoid unnecessary offenses or, worse still, doping regulations.

Basic questions of the swimming regulations

The main purpose of swimming is to travel a certain distance in the aquatic environment in the shortest possible time. To achieve this, different techniques can be implemented: breaststroke, crawl, butterfly, or backstroke.

In addition, the regulation indicates that this distance to be completed can be combined with the obligatory nature of a particular style to generate different tests, both in the male and female branches. So, to the four styles mentioned above, we must apply them in the following distances:

50 meters.100 meters.200 meters.400 meters.800 meters.1500 meters.Marathon 10 km.Relay 4 x 100 or 4 x 200 meters.

The pool in addition to the aforementioned aspects, another of the essential elements for the practice of this sport is the swimming pool; It would become, neither more nor less, the 'playing field'.

The depth of the Olympic swimming pool is 1.80 meters; its length is 50 m and its width, 21 m. In addition, each lane is 2.5 m wide and separated from the other by a floating rope. Meanwhile, semi-Olympic pools measure half and their depth varies between 0.70 and 2.70 meters.

At the ends of the pool are the starting banquets, from which swimmers begin their careers in all events, except in the backstroke. The water, meanwhile, should be warm and calm.

Necessary elementsClothing is a very relevant issue in swimming. The swimmer must have the following supplements to compete:

1. Swimsuit: it cannot be made of any material, but one approved by official bodies. In the case of men, it should not exceed the navel or reach below the knees; for women, they are one-piece or two-piece. Hair cap.Goggles: they are intended to avoid eye irritation and improve visibility in the water.Earplugs - Many swimmers, especially those with ear irritation problems, use them.

2. What is doping? Doping is the intake of prohibited substances by athletes that allow them to improve their performance or accelerate their recovery. Swimming, like almost all sports, is not exempt from this amoral practice.
What substances are prohibited? The entities in charge of establishing the prohibited components are FINA —International

3. Swimming Federation— and WADA —World Anti-Doping Agency.

Substances that regulated swimmers cannot ingest include the following:

NarcoticsAnabolic.Hormones and growth substances.Diuretics and other masking agents.StimulantsCanabinoids.Glucocorticoids.Alcohol.

In addition, various methods such as chemical and physical manipulation or genetic doping are also prohibited.

For these reasons, athletes must be extremely cautious with the supplements and medications they take. Even the most common of the anti-inflammatories could contain some of these substances, so it is essential to consult a doctor before proceeding to take them.

When a case of doping is detected after a urine or blood test, the offending swimmer usually receives a sports sanction. These, in general, tend to be very severe.

Ultimately, there are several regulatory aspects that we must consider. In this sense, the advice and experience of an Olympic champion like Mireia Belmonte can be very helpful. Be part of this new module and learn everything you need to be an informed and complete athlete.