Comment by jraines
The article is wrong. That’s when they changed it for fly/free.
Here is the 92 backstroke final. The announcers mention the rule: https://youtu.be/FTfTyzkSzQs?si=E82rvKql-w9vuwSf
I tried to find 96 and cannot but it was the same.
Here is the butterfly performance in 96 that ultimately triggered them to chamge it for fly/free: https://youtu.be/Zp2NTFjeXQQ?si=e_E-D1ZAvzNmjACe
I haven't seen that final in 29 years, thanks.
Pankratov's start really was incredible. His lungs have to be off the scale.