At the beginning Beginning the race in the water is an in-water start. The contestants stand at the marked line or at the buoy rather than jumping off the dock or running in from the beach.
In backstroke competitions, certain triathlon swims, and warm-up races in the pool, an in-water start makes the race more equitable by preventing discrepancies in diving. Swimmers enter at the same moment—generally by grasping a rope or platform—and push off once the starter commands. This type of start requires underwater kicking that is strong and intelligent positioning. Underwater dolphin kicking and streamlined positioning are practiced by athletes to gain an early advantage, so the in-water start is a valuable skill in both pool and open-water competitions.
