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What part of the body wins the race?
“The first athlete whose torso (as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the closest edge of the finish line is the winner,” NBC explains. This is why runners lean forward in close races — to get their torsos over the threshold.
Why do sprinters dip?
The more the athlete moves it forward, the faster the legs have to move to keep up with the gravity center so that the body would not fall over. The sprinters are trying to have a fast finish, so they seem to lean over more.
Can you dive in a running race?
Can you dive across the finish line in track? Yes, it is legal for runners to dive across the finish line, but it’s dangerous. The Olympic rules state, a runner crosses the finish line when their torso crosses, which is different from their head.
Can you dive at the finish line?
What is the ribbon called at the end of a race?
The finishing ribbon, is there to ascertain exactly when the athlete crosses the officially measured line.
Can a runner cross the finish line with his head?
But it isn’t prohibited either. The exhaustive rule book (pdf), which dictates everything from the width of the finish line to how cameras should be set up to record photo finishes, is silent on the subject. Its main stipulation is that the runner whose torso, rather than hands or head, crosses the line first is the winner:
How are athletes placed at the finish line?
The athletes shall be placed in the order in which any part of their bodies (i.e. torso, as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the nearer edge of the finish line as defined above.
Which is part of the body crosses the finish line first?
The chest/torso is what counts. This is why you see athletes lean forward and stick their chests out at the finish line in a close race. You will occasionally see a photo finish picture with one athlete’s foot crossing the line first, but another’s chest crossing first. The latter is the winner.
Why are some people sidelined before the finish line?
There are those that start big and end up being sidelined because they used up all of their energy before the finish line. Sad to say, it’s usually the ones that we are trying to keep up with or compare ourselves with.