I've often wondered why swimming doesn't have the equivalent of the decathlon in Track & Field. i.e 10 events swum over a 2 day period with points assigned to each performance. (For the women it's 7 events, but that's another story.)
If we were to construct such a decathlon, which events should be included and in what order? Note that these are all finals - no heats. (Unlike, track, I think that the women should swim the same 10 events as well.) Also, should we use only the pool swimming events, or should we include diving, open water swimming and, *shudder* synchronized swimming?
-LBJ
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Regarding the comparison to track's decathlon: It is felt by some, me included, that the decathlon is seriously flawed WRT stacking everything towards the shorter running events and the decathletes whine like scalded dogs about the 1500 run as it is.
So, if the goal in a swimming decathlon is to measure the best all-around swimmer, I would argue for the inclusion of at least one of the longer events (1500 or open water).
Regarding the comparison to track's decathlon: It is felt by some, me included, that the decathlon is seriously flawed WRT stacking everything towards the shorter running events and the decathletes whine like scalded dogs about the 1500 run as it is.
So, if the goal in a swimming decathlon is to measure the best all-around swimmer, I would argue for the inclusion of at least one of the longer events (1500 or open water).
