Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Depending on the race and finish structure (over a timing mat on the beach or at a vertical finish pad in the water), transponders (or timing chips) can be worn on swimmer’s ankles or wrists during an open water swim.

Generally speaking, if the finish is done vertically (by running or walking over a timing mat on dryland), then the transponder is worn on the ankles. In this case, only one ankle transponder is used. Conversely, if the finish is performed by reaching up and touching a finish pad in the water (like at the Olympics), then the transponder is worn on the wrists. In this case, two wrist transponders are used on both wrists.

During the 2014 USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championships 5 km race, Delise Batiza of Roadrunner Aquatic lost her transponder and came over to the referee’s boat to receive and quickly put on a new one [see below]:

Vincent Degrasio shows swimmers at The La Jolla Rough Water Swim at La Jolla Cove, California:

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