This is something I have been thinking about since the Olympics... at what point will it not be possible for human beings to swim or run any faster. There has to be a point where the human body just can't go any faster, no matter how much you train, what kind of things you put into your body (legal or not), etc.
I mean it isn't possible to swim a 400 IM, for example, in 2 seconds (at least I don't think it ever will be) so where does it end? And when will that happen?
You know this scenario has actually occurred before. In the 1984 LA Olympics Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer tied in the 100 meter free. The timing system used actually measured to 0.001 second, but FINA uses 0.01, so the tie stood. I don't think it was ever revealed who truly "won" according to the timing system.
I know there have been other ties, too, but this one sticks out in my mind.
EDIT: yeah, in the 50 if you run the numbers 22 seconds for 50 meters is 2.27 m/s, so in .01 seconds the swimmers travel .02 meters, or 2 cm. That's close to an inch for the metrically challenged :)
You know this scenario has actually occurred before. In the 1984 LA Olympics Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer tied in the 100 meter free. The timing system used actually measured to 0.001 second, but FINA uses 0.01, so the tie stood. I don't think it was ever revealed who truly "won" according to the timing system.
I know there have been other ties, too, but this one sticks out in my mind.
EDIT: yeah, in the 50 if you run the numbers 22 seconds for 50 meters is 2.27 m/s, so in .01 seconds the swimmers travel .02 meters, or 2 cm. That's close to an inch for the metrically challenged :)
