My guess is that the 15 m line was chosen because it is the least multiple of 5 m that will not force most swimmers to surface unnaturally early after the start. Had they picked 10 m, half of us would break the rule by just doing what used to be normal. Of course, by introducing the rule they also made most of us strive to reach further than before. A 50 back or 50 fly in short course is not much swimming anymore. And the same swimmer can excel in both events by just having a great kick in a way you just couldn't in the days when swimmers swam more in these events.
LSU Moose
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