Mass start: all swimmers enter water at signal (typically from pontoon dive-in); False start rules apply — second offense = disqualification
Why people argue about this
People often assume that a false start is just as severe in mass starts as it is in pool races, forgetting that the consequences are much more serious—disqualification during the actual race itself if you get caught twice. They overlook how crucial timing synchronization is in open water swimming compared to lanes in pools, leading to misjudgment of severity.
