I think this would be a great idea,but please USA-S contest them at trials,don't be like at Worlds where you say"well you made the team and we need someone in the 50,how about it?"
If 50's get added, it's only fair to add a men's 800 and and the women's 1500 without dropping the 800.
Why? We already have the four 200s, the 400 IM, the 400 free, the two distance free events and the open water swims. Sprinters just have five events.
50s would be fantastic. And maybe the US wouldn't focus so much on mid-D and actually win a 400 free relay.
Why? We already have the four 200s, the 400 IM, the 400 free, the two distance free events and the open water swims. Sprinters just have five events.
50s would be fantastic. And maybe the US wouldn't focus so much on mid-D and actually win a 400 free relay.
I think it would be interesting to see 50's in the Olympics. All of a sudden the NCAA focus on shorter distances would become a strength rather than a source of complaining. And just think, if the 50 stroke events end up in NCAA's, we get to watch the traditionalists fall on their swords all over again! Everybody wins! :banana:
and actually there are five 200's :bolt:
I'm biased for sure, but I don't really find the 50 free to be that great of a spectator event at the Olympic level.
I agree totally, especially long course. At least short course you have the added intrigue of the turns.
I think the 800 should be scrapped totally. It is basically an insult to women. And, the open water event should be done in an actual open body of water, not a city pond, next time. There are some unique skills required but not when the water is flat with no current, no waves and it's 8 feet deep.
I already think the Olympics is a bloated collection of meaningless sports. Adding more events doesn't seem to have any real reason.
I already think the Olympics is a bloated collection of meaningless sports. Adding more events doesn't seem to have any real reason.
You mean sports like ribbon twirling, dancing with a ball, jumping on a trampoline, and so on...?
I am okay with it in principle; while I don't really enjoy watching 50s, it might allow swimmers like Missy Franklin more time to rest between the "real" events. :)
But I am not sure about this philosophy of "striking while the iron is hot." There are already those who complain about the overabundance of swimming events, and adding more might lead to overdose.
We already have the four 200s, the 400 IM, the 400 free, the two distance free events and the open water swims. Sprinters just have five events.
50s would be fantastic. And maybe the US wouldn't focus so much on mid-D and actually win a 400 free relay.
Distance swimmers only really have two true distance events: the 800/1500 and the 10K OW. The 400 is quasi-distance (it is still pretty anaerobic); the 200s are definitely not distance events.
The reason mid-D training is popular is that it covers the largest subset of swimming events, especially long course where the 100s are a little less sprint-like.
I'm biased for sure, but I don't really find the 50 free to be that great of a spectator event at the Olympic level.+1
If 50's get added, it's only fair to add a men's 800 and and the women's 1500 without dropping the 800.+1
... and the 5K OW
