I am curious as to the majority view on who is the " Fastest human in the water ? ".
More specifically on what criteria do we base it on ? I followed Ion's link to www.swimclub.co.uk and started posting on their discussion forum. I have received a very hostile reaction there.
In the UK, Mark Foster bills himself as " The fastest Human in the water ". His basis for claiming this, is that he holds the world record in the 50m Short Course freestyle event. I felt that this was not fair to Popov and Hoogie as he had never beaten them head to head in any event and that they held the World Records for 50m and 100m Freestyle.
The angry response was that Foster was the fastest as his short course 50m is faster than the 50m LC record. I feel that this is a ridiculous comparison.
Do you agree with me ? Should we base that claim on the 50m Free or the 100m Free event, LC or SC ?
I am not welcome on their site, after only 4 posts, is that a record ?
I think, after living in North America for 12 years that I now have more in common with the mindset of Canadians and Americans than the British who IMHO don't seem to want to "be the best by learning from the best !".
BTW the standard of posts and discussion is much higher over here on the USMS site.
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Former Member
Lefty: you are close. Schoeman is #2 all time at 19.07. However, Tom Jager is #1 at 19.05. See www.swiminfo.com/.../All_Time_SCY.asp
Ion: I agree with you. Picking a SCM time is, in my subjective opinion, not the most valid measurement for recognizing someone as "the World's Fastest Human." If the measure is purely velocity, regardless of distance or format, then Jager's 19.05 is the best, footnote to your computations. (I assume we do not have enough confidence in our timing of a 12 meter sprint to a floating water polo ball to seriously consider that format.) If it's the highest velocity in the most commonly accepted format, then I think you have to make 50 LCM the universal standard, and that means Popov.
However, what exactly is the significance of "World's Fastest Human"? That is basically a headline for airhead sports announcers who do not know enough about swimming to have an observation that might be more insightful. Spare me the People Magazine, MTV, 15 second sound bite on my favorite sport. Take the time to say something substantive about world or nationals records, or major championships, and I'll listen to you.
Matt
Lefty: you are close. Schoeman is #2 all time at 19.07. However, Tom Jager is #1 at 19.05. See www.swiminfo.com/.../All_Time_SCY.asp
Ion: I agree with you. Picking a SCM time is, in my subjective opinion, not the most valid measurement for recognizing someone as "the World's Fastest Human." If the measure is purely velocity, regardless of distance or format, then Jager's 19.05 is the best, footnote to your computations. (I assume we do not have enough confidence in our timing of a 12 meter sprint to a floating water polo ball to seriously consider that format.) If it's the highest velocity in the most commonly accepted format, then I think you have to make 50 LCM the universal standard, and that means Popov.
However, what exactly is the significance of "World's Fastest Human"? That is basically a headline for airhead sports announcers who do not know enough about swimming to have an observation that might be more insightful. Spare me the People Magazine, MTV, 15 second sound bite on my favorite sport. Take the time to say something substantive about world or nationals records, or major championships, and I'll listen to you.
Matt
