competitive course![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The events, for singles and teams, take place in a pool that is 25 m or 50 m (Olympic-sized pool) long.
false start rope ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Rope that is 50 ft from the wall; it is dropped into the water in the event of a false start to inform the swimmers that they must resume their starting positions.
finish wall ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Wall that the swimmer must touch to end a race; it is also the wall for turning around during events longer than 100 m in an Olympic-sized pool.
starter ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who gives the start signal; false starts lead to the disqualification of the swimmer in error.
lane timekeeper ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who manually registers the finish time of the competitor swimming in an assigned lane.
chief timekeeper ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who collects the times registered by the lane timekeepers; these data are used in the event the electronic timer fails.
placing judge ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who confirms the times registered by the electronic timer after checking with the timekeepers.
starting block ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Metal elevated structure from which the swimmer dives into the pool to start a race.
referee ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who enforces the rules and oversees the progress of the competition; the referee ratifies the judges’ decisions and resolves any disputes that may arise.
stroke judge ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Each of the four officials checking the acceptability of the swimmers’ movements, depending on the stroke category.
lane ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The strips, numbered from 1 to 8, that are reserved for swimmers during a race; swimmers must stay in the same lane throughout the event.
turning wall ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Wall that the swimmer must touch before turning around; during the turn, the athlete pushes from the wall with the feet.
backstroke turn indicator ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Rope with pennants that is strung 16 ft from the finish and turning walls; backstroke swimmers use it to judge distance.
lane rope ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Cord with floaters along it that delimits the eight lanes of the pool; it is designed to reduce turbulence on the surface of the water.
bottom line ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Continuous line on the bottom of the pool in the center of each lane; it is a visual guide for the swimmer.
sidewall ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Wall forming the side of the pool; there is at least 20 in between the side wall and the outside lane ropes.
swimming pool ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Pool where swimming competitions take place; the water in it is maintained at a constant temperature (around 78°F) and depth.
turning judges ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Officials checking the validity of the turns; in the 800 m and 1500 m events, they inform the swimmers of how many lengths they have left to do.
automatic electronic timer ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Apparatus for automatically registering the swimmer’s finish time; it is activated at the start and stops when the swimmer comes into contact with the wall.