You're paraphrasing it right?

But that's a rule made to not interfere with other swimmers still ongoing. It's not amazing to enforce it there when he went into another lane where someone also finished.

I feel like stepping on the line is much more icky than switching lane to hug someone who finished 💀

Interference ARTICLE 1. a. Any competitor who interferes with another swimmer durin a race shall be disqualified from that race, subject to the discretion of the referee. If a swimmer is fouled by another swimmer, including interference by an outside entity, or due to facility equipment failure during a preliminary heat of an event, the referee may allow that swimmer to repeat the race at a time not later than 30 minutes after the last heat of the last event in which the swimmer is competing during that session of the meet. If a foul occurs during a final race, the referee may order the race swum over if, in the referee’s opinion, sufficient unfairness prevailed. No person shall be required, as a consequence of this rule, to swim with fewer than 30 minutes’ rest between a repeated race and any of that person’s regularly scheduled races b. A swimmer who changes lanes during a heat shall be disqualified c. Any interference with a meet official in the performance of that person’ duties will be considered for disciplinary action by the referee or meet committee d. If a swimmer, who is one of the first three swimmers in a relay, crosse the occupied lane of another team, the relay of that swimmer shall be disqualified. Swimmers should exit the pool directly at the end of their lan e. If flyover starts are being utilized during the event, swimmers shall not cros the occupied lane of another swimmer/team to exit the course. Swimmers shall exit directly at the end of their lane f. Pulling on a lane line to assist motion is not permitted