Event and Unique Scoring Explanation For the Duel in the Pool; How To Watch the Action Live
In addition to the mixture of traditional events and unique races that will be offered at this weekend’s Duel in the Pool, the United States and Australia will have the chance to take advantage of a few scoring quirks that are designed to add excitement to the action at the Sydney Aquatic Centre. For example, the countries will have the chance to seek out double points in certain events, with the coaching staff required to identify the event prior to it starting.
Fans will have the opportunity to watch the Duel in the Pool on the USA Swimming website. The governing body will stream the event live, and will also have a replay available.
EVENT EXPLANATION
Broken Freestyle
400m event: 1st leg, 200m on 3 minutes; 2nd leg, 100m on 2 minutes; 3rd leg, 100m on 2 minutes or until finished.
800m event: 1st leg, 300m on 5 minutes; 2nd leg, 200m on 3 minutes; 3rd leg, 200m on 3 minutes; 4th leg, 100m on 2 minutes or until finished.
For both events, all dive starts from the blocks. First place of each leg will score one bonus point.
Skins
Three Australian swimmers vs. three American swimmers. Last two to finish in each leg drop out, until there are only two swimmers left. First two to drop out do not score points, second two to drop out will be awarded points 2-1. Final two remaining will be awarded points 4-3.
Mixed Class/Able-Bodied Relay
Team will consist of two able-bodied swimmers and two Para swimmers, in the following order: Swimmer 1 – Female swimmer; Swimmer 2 – Male S9 swimmer; Swimmer 3 – Female S9 swimmer; Swimmer 4 – Male swimmer.
Mystery Individual Medley
Mystery IM event will have order of strokes randomly determined at start of the race. Regardless of order, all starts will be dive from the blocks, including Backstroke.
Mixed MC 3×50 Form-Stroke (100-meter & Skins)
Staggered start and elimination based on finish places. Stagger will be based on the 100m world record for swimmers chosen stroke. Swimmer to nominate their stroke ahead of time and must swim chosen stroke for each leg of the race. The Starter will announce the swimmer’s count.
Mixed 4×50 Random Relay
Each team must select two male and two female to swim a 4×50 relay of unknown format. Before the start, Team Captains will toss a coin to determine who spins the wheel, other team will spin for event 41 on Sunday. Winning Captain spins the wheel to determine if this will be Freestyle or Medley. Both teams must swim this format.
2x200m vs 4×100 Freestyle Random Relay
Each team must select two male and two female to swim a freestyle relay of unknown distance. Team Captain of the losing coin toss from Saturday will spin the wheel to determine which distance their team will swim. The other team will swim the alternate format. The team swimming the 2×200 will have to drop one male and one female athlete of their choice. Start will be staggered based off combined best times (to be provided by team coach ahead of time).
ADDITIONAL SCORING
Power Play
Can be used in any relay event to gain double points. Each team has one Power Play per day. This must be used prior to the start of the race. If a relay event with a Power Play is won, the team will earn
double the points. If a relay event with a power play is lost (the opposing team wins), half points will be awarded.
Double Dip
Can be played in any skins event to try and gain double points. If Double Dip is called, an extra 50m is contested, with double points awarded to the winner. Only one Double Dip can be played per day.
Flag Frenzy
Can be played in any of the 100m events to gain double points. Each team can play one Flag Frenzy per day. Flag must be thrown prior to the first swimmer hitting the 50m turn. Whoever wins an event with a Flag Frenzy will earn double points, regardless of which team throws the flag.
Broken Freestyle Bonus
First place of each leg of the broken freestyle events will score 1 bonus point.
Note: Explanations courtesy of USA Swimming