A tumble turn, or flip turn is a technique of turns in swimming

Turns in swimming

Turns in swimming are used to reverse the direction in which they are swimming. They are usually done when the swimmer reaches the end of the swimming pool but still has one or more lengths to swim....

, used to reverse the direction in which the person is swimming. It is usually done when the swimmer reaches the end of the swimming pool

Swimming pool

A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...

 but still has one or more lengths to swim.

The technique's development is credited, by the International Swimming Hall of Fame

International Swimming Hall of Fame

The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...

, to legendary University of Texas

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

 swim coach Tex Robertson

Tex Robertson

Julian "Tex" Robertson was an Olympic bronze medalist for the 1932 US Water Polo team and former swimming coach for the University of Texas. He is best known for inventing the flip turn.-Swimming career:...

 while he was training Adolph Kiefer

Adolph Kiefer

Adolph Gustav "Sonny Boy" Kiefer was an American swimmer and the first man in the world to swim 100 yards backstroke under 1 minute. His backstroke records stood for 15 years...

 for the 1936 Olympics

1936 Summer Olympics

The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...

.

Flip turns are only permitted during front crawl

Front crawl

The front crawl, forward crawl, or freestyle is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly universally used during a freestyle swimming competition, hence the synonymously used term "freestyle". It is one of two...

 and backstroke

Backstroke

The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...

 races. In butterfly

Butterfly stroke

The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...

 and breaststroke

Breaststroke

The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...

races, regulations require swimmers to touch the end of the pool with both hands simultaneously before turning back for another length.

External links

• Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), Swimming Teaching and Coaching, Level 1, Hogarth L. (1998).
• Optimising Swim Turn Performance, Coaches' Information Service
• Leisure Press, Swimming into the 21st Century - Colwin C. Mayfield, Swim Even Faster, Maglischo E W, (Edit.1993).
• Pelham Books, Coaching the Young Swimmer, Wilke K, Madsen O, (1992/3).
• Wolfe Medical Publications, Athletic Ability and the Anatomy of Motion, Wirhed R, (1984).