An examination of the two best IMers in the world might yield one possible answer: under water proficiency.
My guess is that, with both at peak performance, Ryan Lochte (arguably the best under water swimmer in the world) would beat Michael Phelps in a Short Course Yard 200 IM (is that why Michael skipped short course championships?), while Michael has an edge in the 200 LCM.
There are more opportunities to swim under water in a SCY event than in a LCM event thus creating an advantage for the better under water swimmer.
In a 200 yard race (short course), a swimmer can legally swim almost 66 % (131 yards) of the race under water, while a swimmer can only legally swim 30% (60 meters) of a 200 meter long course meter race under water.
In addition, many experts have pointed out that swimming under water is a shorter person's advantage while swimming, in general, favors the taller person.
An examination of the two best IMers in the world might yield one possible answer: under water proficiency.
My guess is that, with both at peak performance, Ryan Lochte (arguably the best under water swimmer in the world) would beat Michael Phelps in a Short Course Yard 200 IM (is that why Michael skipped short course championships?), while Michael has an edge in the 200 LCM.
There are more opportunities to swim under water in a SCY event than in a LCM event thus creating an advantage for the better under water swimmer.
In a 200 yard race (short course), a swimmer can legally swim almost 66 % (131 yards) of the race under water, while a swimmer can only legally swim 30% (60 meters) of a 200 meter long course meter race under water.
In addition, many experts have pointed out that swimming under water is a shorter person's advantage while swimming, in general, favors the taller person.
