We now have just over a month before the open World Champs at Melbourne. What will we see there, more records? I believe that this is a 'statement' champs, not least of which the Aussies in the wake of the retirement of Ian Thorpe. Will the Chinese unveil some unknown superstars? Kitajima, according to the Swimming World website feels that he is returning to form, can he challenge Hansen (& how many little dolphin kicks he hide in his dive?).
What do you see on the horizon? Time to venture some predictions.
I say the we will see Park from Korea start to push Grant Hackett, with a view to getting in his head for 2008. Will Phelps shock and awe his opponents?
Let's hear from you...
Beth:
This has always been a controversial issue dating back to probably 1984 when Peter Williams broke the World Record in the 50 Meter Free swimming all alone. This has also been a controversial issue back in the 1950's and 1960's when the USA Olympic Team would have time trial swims to determine who would make up the Relays for the Olympics. Today that is not done but the Coaches set the critera in advance or so we are told and there is a lot of disagreements with how this is done. Topic for past and future threads.
From my understanding of reading the FINA Rules, you can swim alone or with as many people as you want. You must follow all of the rules including that 12.4, so that everyone that wants to swim a time trial, has the ability to. No Swimming Federation has come forward to challenge this and get it changed. So it looks like Time Trial World Records is here to stay. Also, you have to remember that USA Swimming allows this and there were attempts besides Tara Kirk at Austin last year at the American SCY Championships. So if we as a Federation allow it here, I don't think it will change no matter how many people complain.
Beth:
This has always been a controversial issue dating back to probably 1984 when Peter Williams broke the World Record in the 50 Meter Free swimming all alone. This has also been a controversial issue back in the 1950's and 1960's when the USA Olympic Team would have time trial swims to determine who would make up the Relays for the Olympics. Today that is not done but the Coaches set the critera in advance or so we are told and there is a lot of disagreements with how this is done. Topic for past and future threads.
From my understanding of reading the FINA Rules, you can swim alone or with as many people as you want. You must follow all of the rules including that 12.4, so that everyone that wants to swim a time trial, has the ability to. No Swimming Federation has come forward to challenge this and get it changed. So it looks like Time Trial World Records is here to stay. Also, you have to remember that USA Swimming allows this and there were attempts besides Tara Kirk at Austin last year at the American SCY Championships. So if we as a Federation allow it here, I don't think it will change no matter how many people complain.
