What decides who wins a photo finish in a race?

[grohl]

Settle an argument I am having.

I say the torso or chest of a runner (human) decides the outcome of a race.

My friend says any part of the body (foot, head, etc) that crosses the finish line first is the winner.

Who is right?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Any part of the body

 

[RagingBITCH]

You're a dumbass.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: grohl
Settle an argument I am having.

I say the torso or chest of a runner (human) decides the outcome of a race.

My friend says any part of the body (foot, head, etc) that crosses the finish line first is the winner.

Who is right?

For track, it is the chest (trust me, I've competed for years). For swim, it is the first thing to touch the wall.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Any part of the body

Depends on league?

 

[Bignate603]

In swimming I've never heard of a photo finish, they always go by the touch pads. They are these big wide sensors that are as wide as the whole lane and go a few feet deep. When I competed in swimming they would have a backup of people that would watch at each and every lane and hit a button when they touched the wall. That would register with the timing system. The touch pads were pretty reliable though, and I never personally had a problem with it.

 

[fierydemise]

I've always known (thought?) that it is based on the chest in track events

 

[savvy]

Moobs would be beneficial then, eh guys?

 

[nick1985]

Torso for track and field.

 

[Auggie]

If it were "any part of the body" I'm pretty damn sure athletes would cross the line with their arms out front of them, rather than thrusting their chests out by swooping their arms backwards as they cross...

 

[zach0624]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: grohl
Settle an argument I am having.

I say the torso or chest of a runner (human) decides the outcome of a race.

My friend says any part of the body (foot, head, etc) that crosses the finish line first is the winner.

Who is right?

For track, it is the chest (trust me, I've competed for years). For swim, it is the first thing to touch the wall.

I do tech for all the track meets at my HS we use a camera system and always go by torso, which is shoulders to waist.

 

[BCYL]

I always thought it was the shoulder since I are runners lean forward when they cross the line... but I guess that makes sense for the chest as well.