A swim-off is a tie-breaking race held when two athletes record the exact same time. This usually occurs when both swimmers are tied for the final spot in a championship heat. The two participants race head-to-head in a single heat to determine who moves forward. This sudden-death event happens shortly after the original race to finalize the event rankings for the session. Two swimmers compete in a fifty-meter freestyle swim-off to decide the eighth qualifier. The winner earns the right to compete in the final while the loser becomes the alternate. Coaches prepare their athletes for the high pressure and quick turnaround time of these extra races. A swim-off creates intense excitement as the entire crowd focuses on only two lanes.
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