How do I deal with contact and other problems in the swim?
Rule- South Africa
- Triathlon South Africa
- World Triathlon rules
- Age-Group 16+
- Technical officials
- 2026
- Officials
Swim conduct (World Triathlon rule 4.1):
| What you see | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Accidental contact, then the athletes move apart | No penalty |
| Contact where an athlete keeps impeding another without moving apart | Time penalty |
| Deliberately targeting another athlete to impede them, gain an advantage or risk harm | Disqualification, and possible report to the World Triathlon Tribunal |
| Dunking, punching, scratching or kicking another athlete | Disqualification, and possible report to the Tribunal |
| Pulling or pushing on a buoy, boat or other object to make progress | Not allowed |
Allowed: any stroke, treading water, floating, standing on the bottom, and resting by holding a buoy or stationary boat. Athletes may push off the bottom at the start and end of each swim lap, or elsewhere if the Technical Delegate allows. They must follow the set course.
Emergencies: an athlete in trouble should raise an arm and call for help. Once official assistance is given, the athlete must retire.
Age-group swim penalties for infringements at the start or in the swim are served in T1 at the athlete's spot.
Wetsuits (rule 4.2) for age-groupers up to the 55-59 category: forbidden at 22 °C and above for swims up to 1500 m, and at 24.6 °C and above for longer swims. Mandatory at 15.9 °C and below. For 60-64 and older: forbidden at 24.6 °C and above at any distance, and mandatory at 15.9 °C and below. Bib numbers are not allowed in a non-wetsuit swim.
Time limits (rule 4.3) for age-groupers include 20 minutes for up to 300 m, 1 h 10 min for 1001 to 1500 m and 2 h 20 min for 3001 to 4000 m.
Added 22 Oct 2026