What are the breaststroke rules under the 2026 World Aquatics rules?

Breaststroke (World Aquatics Rule 7, in force February 2026):

• Start and turns: one arm stroke completely back to the legs is allowed underwater. A single butterfly kick is permitted at any time before the first breaststroke kick. The head must break the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. The infraction is written up as "more than one downward butterfly kick".
• Body position: on the breast from the first arm stroke after the start and each turn. No rolling onto the back at any time, except at the turn after touching the wall; the body must be on the breast from the first arm stroke after leaving the wall. World Aquatics' August 2026 commentary adds that swimmers must not kick until they have returned past the vertical to the breast after the turn.
• Stroke cycle: one arm stroke then one leg kick, in that order. All arm movements simultaneous.
• Arms: hands pushed forward together from the breast; elbows underwater except on the last stroke before a turn, during the turn and the last stroke at the finish; hands not brought back beyond the hip line except on the first stroke after the start and each turn.
• Head: must break the surface during each complete cycle.
• Legs: simultaneous, feet turned out during the propulsive part of the kick. No alternating or downward butterfly kicks except as above. Feet breaking the surface is allowed unless followed by a downward butterfly kick.
• Touch: at each turn and the finish, both hands separated and simultaneously, at, above or below the surface. An arm stroke without a kick is allowed on the last stroke before the touch.