At the latest FINA Bureau meeting in Dubai, a new FINA By-Law governing the approach to the finish at open water competitions:
FINA Open Water (Bylaw 9.3.7.4): For all FINA Events, the Finish Approach (OWS 7.1) is part of the course, and swimmers shall remain within the rows of buoys throughout their approach to the finish.
This new ruling was partly based on the controversial finish by Fran Crippen in the 10K race at the 2009 World Swimming Championships in Ostia, Italy where he swam momentarily outside the finish chute. Rai TV shows here won by Thomas Lurz:
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