An apparatus to quickly position a start assist device for backstroke swimmers and remove said start assist device once the apparatus detects or is signaled that the swimmer has left to prevent injuries and obstructions caused by the start assist device. A mechanical embodiment of such an apparatus and a motorized embodiment of such an apparatus with a data input system to position the start assist device according to the individual swimmers needs and means to signal the start event are disclosed.

A starting block lock having a clamp, top and bottom locking wedges, and a rod is provided. The clamp includes top and bottom portions each having an inside surface and a body between the top and bottom portions. The body includes a cylindrical bore extending on a longitudinal axis between the top and bottom portions. The top and bottom locking wedges each include an outer surface, an inner surface, a side surface, and an aperture extending between and through the outer and inner surfaces. At least a portion of each of the side surfaces slidably contact the inside surface of the clamp. The rod extends through the apertures and the cylindrical bore and is configured rotate in a first direction to linearly displace the top and bottom locking wedges toward each other thereby providing an outward force against the inside surfaces of the clamp to expand the clamp.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a starting block system for use with a swimming pool. A pedestal is designed to support a platform. A back plate is disposed along a rear edge of the platform and has a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of the platform. A slide mechanism is disposed adjacent the rear edge of the platform and is in communication with the back plate. The back plate is designed to slide laterally adjacent the rear edge of the platform.

The process enables a reaction time of an athlete at the start of a race to be measured with a personalised transponder module positioned on the athlete and a base station. The module comprises a receiver unit, a processing unit, a transmitter unit for data signals and a motion sensor to supply measurement signals to the processing unit. The module is activated by a received wake-up signal and a measurement of the movement is performed by the sensor at the start of the race. The data signals are transmitted to the base station and a determination of the reaction time of the athlete at the start of the race is performed to determine a possible false start if the reaction time is below a determined time threshold following the starting signal.

A swimming starting block front foot support that can be provided in several configurations and can be strapped or otherwise removably secured to a conventional swim starting block or built into new starting blocks. The front foot support block allows the front foot to be in a substantially horizontal position, which reduces reaction time and increases stability during start, and allows the toes of the front foot to wrap around or otherwise contact a front curved portion of the front foot support, which allows the user to have more force when jumping/diving off the swim block and into an adjacent swimming pool.

A starting block (1) including a supporting ledge device (10) for a start of a backstroke race. The supporting ledge device is at least partially integrated into the starting block. The supporting ledge device includes a support ledge (13) on which at least one foot of a swimmer can be supported before the start of a backstroke race. The support ledge is held from within a base (9) or a base plate of the starting block by fastening elements (11). Two flexible fastening elements in the form of straps are respectively connected to the two ends of the support ledge and to return means within the starting block at ends opposite the fixation to the support ledge.

An adjustable starting block pedal, of a starting block, having a pedal body, a retaining clip and a repositionable pin is disclosed. The retaining clip may be attached to a pedal body side surface. The retaining clip may be configured to attach the starting pedal to a rail of the starting block, and the rail may include a rail base, a plurality of slots, and teeth. The repositionable pin may be configured to be disposed between a retaining clip body and the pedal body side surface. The repositionable pin may be configured to move vertically up or down along a retaining clip body longitudinal axis, and the repositionable pin may be configured to rest at a slot bottom portion associated with the plurality of slots.

A swimming start block assembly having an adjustable track start wedge is disclosed. The track start wedge is slidable forward and rearward along an upper surface of a swimming start block and is lockable at a desired position by inserting locking tabs positioned at each side of the track start wedge into a set of apertures positioned along each side of the start block. The track start wedge may be spring-loaded toward a locked position and the assembly may be configured so that the locking tabs are received by apertures regardless of whether they are aligned when the wedge is released from an unlocked position.