FINA...in their grand wisdom, has decided NOT to make Libby Lenton's 52.99 as a world record. This has been reported the the Herald Sun out of Australia.
Once again, FINA shows that it is run by politicans, not swimmers or swimming fans.
So, Thank You FINA for once again screwing things up.
The organizers should have let the coaches know that any world record attempt on the leadoff leg will not count. I don't know why they didn't anticipate someone trying this. World records have been broken in the Duel, it's a very fast pool and it was pretty close to worlds.
If Phelps had broken the 100 free record, you can bet there would be LOTS of ranting in USA Swimming.
Think of it this way:
The FINA rules say that if the leadoff swimmer in the 400 medley, 400 free or 800 free relays breaks a world/meet/country record, yet the relay is disqualified, the leadoff swimmer's record stands. (SW 12.8)
So, if Ryan Lochte broke Aaron's 100 back record in the prelim relay at worlds, the record would remain even thought the USA relay was disqualified, and therefore, invalid. Basically, FINA is saying Australia's team was invalid, AND Libby's swim did not count.
If it were just a 100 free race between Phelps and Lenton, would the record have counted?
Lots of "what ifs."
Is there a rule that says women cannot swim in a men's race, FINA better get with the times and stop its discrimination.
Somehow I don't think women would like that version of equality.
However, women might like it, IF:
Separate men's and women's rankings and World Records were still
maintained, then women would love it. For the simple reason that all
they really, really would have to do is try to make reasonably sure they're in a lane within sight (say, 25 or 35 metres) of a superior, strike that, make it FASTER, male swimmer, off of whom they could draft for 97.5783% of the race in order to conserve enough energy so as to be able to break, if not a World Record, then at least a National one (where sponsorship contracts would ostensibly be less than for a WR but still quite considerable).
I have watched the video several times- I don't think she got a meaningful draft anyway; which by the way, is not a cause for disqualification, so I don't think it should be considered. Much as I have disagreed with FINA over the years, they have stated the ruling by which the swim was disallowed and as they are the arbitrating body, if they say 'cause the event was not one of the 'official' ones, then that's it. It would be interesting if they adopted our enlightened events of mixed relays (I bet it would be a hit on TV) whether they would adopt such a swim as a world record or find some other reason to disallow it.
So Warren...then what is the verdict on Thorpe drafting off of PVH or anybody else for 3/4 of a race?
By what you're saying....anybody drafting should not have a world record? It's a part of swimming....heck it's a part of racing.
The difference is that in the example you give, the swimmers (PVH and Thorpe) are gunning for the same record. Phelps and Lenton were not swimming for the same individual record...one is male and one is female.
She had a very busy schedule at Worlds and was under a lot of pressure, I find nothing surprising about being able to do a better swim a couple days later with some rest and under less pressure. Your second sentence makes no sense to me, how many world record holders can you truly say would "have no trouble repeating the feat"? :confused:
I won't be surprised if she repeats her time, but then again I won't be surprised if she doesn't. I hope she does.
Yes Lindsay, as did most other swimmers who swam their better times at the Worlds meet and not at The Duel. From the comments of swimmers at the Duel, they were still tired from Worlds and just looking to make a good showing for the country...not to break any records. Maybe Lenton is the exception to the rule and she performs better a few days after a big meet than during the meet.
As for record repeats, well the Texas Trio seem to have no trouble not only repeating their records but actually breaking them. Coughlin is another. Phelps goes without saying. I would go out on a limb to say that Lochte will likely be similar in this respect. I don't see where the confusion comes from here. Please clarify.
Look, I don't know for certain whether Phelps' wake had anything to do with the record but I can say that were I in Lenton's shoes I would want that record on the books with no controversy attached. If she was granted this record it would have footnotes behind it in many minds. This thread is proof of such I think.
So Warren...then what is the verdict on Thorpe drafting off of PVH or anybody else for 3/4 of a race?
By what you're saying....anybody drafting should not have a world record? It's a part of swimming....heck it's a part of racing.
Your signature says, "The clock does not lie".
The clock said 52.99
In a later post you talk about race strategy.
Please explain the difference to us:
a) Libby Lenton's race strategy is to draft off Phelps and she does (as per the clock) a 52.99, but it should not count.
b) However, in the Race of The Year, the Olympics, Athens, the Men's 200m Free, Thorpe did not touch/turn first in any of the 1st three turns (if memory serves. I have the tape and could chceck it, if need be) and yet he won the race. Should he be disqualified and his win not recognized because he drafted off PVH?
I also believe that in his 400m Free, there were several turns where he was out-touched by Hackett, but Ian had a fantastic finish (I have that on tape as well, or was it the Barcelona Worlds? -which I also happen to have-). Should he send back his Gold medal and have his title revoked?
Come on!
We are talking about the 100 here. If a lenton goes a 52.99 in a real race she would be ahead the whole time and would not get a draft off anyone. In the mixed relay she gets a draft off of phelps. She did go a 52.99 In the MIXED RELAY and theres no doubt about that because "the clock does not lie" but consider the situation. These are two completle different races. It is harder to go a 52.99 in a real race against other women than it is with phelps in the next lane becasue of drafting.
