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.
Former Member
As for record repeats, well the Texas Trio seem to have no trouble not only repeating their records but actually breaking them.
If so, why didn't Ian repeat or break his World Record time in Melbourne? He couldn't be troubled to bother? I don't think so.
To me the assertion that if you swam a time once you will have no trouble swimming it again is so obviously untrue that I don't know how to make it any clearer. Grant Hackett hasn't made it close to his 1500m WR since, Ian Thorpe went a long time without equaling his 200m WR. By the end of their career every swimmer has a best time that they were only able to achieve once (there may be cases of a swimmer tying their own PB but it doesn't change the argument).
If so, why didn't Ian repeat or break his World Record time in Melbourne? He couldn't be troubled to bother? I don't think so.
To me the assertion that if you swam a time once you will have no trouble swimming it again is so obviously untrue that I don't know how to make it any clearer. Grant Hackett hasn't made it close to his 1500m WR since, Ian Thorpe went a long time without equaling his 200m WR. By the end of their career every swimmer has a best time that they were only able to achieve once (there may be cases of a swimmer tying their own PB but it doesn't change the argument).
I assert that because she swam this PB after a tough meet the week prior. She was not in optimal condition to be making a WR attempt. Therefore, if she can break a WR under those conditions she should have no trouble repeating the WR with a proper train, shave, and taper.
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.
The original comment about drafting was actually about one of the possible rationales behind the rule - not the rule itself.
The hypothetical question is "Why would FINA not want women swimming against men in elite, open international competition?"
Drafting a lane over? Are you kidding.
Are you actually claiming that a mere lane line between them makes it as if they were in two physically separate bodies of water? Lane lines these days are good, but wow.
-Rick
Perhaps the best way to see the effect of Phelps... as they are both about to finish their leg, the camera pulls out just a bit to show a wider angle. If you look at the empty lane next to Phelps (closer to the camera), you can see the gigantic wave rolling down that entire lane. That's a huge wave! You can hang 10 on that wave if you had a surfboard.
-Rick
RicK: I watched it closely, she fell behind quickly and I stand by both aspects of my opinion: that it wasn't meaningful, nor would it be an offense anyway. BTW I am smoking nothing.
Rick I looked at those lane dividers and they were really doing a great job they broke things up pretty well. But the good thing here is everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Right or wrong. Now just because I think you are wrong that does not mean you are wrong. I was not there and I am going by videos and my interpretation does not have to agree with yours. I could be wrong and I have never smoked anything either.
I have watched the video several times- I don't think she got a meaningful draft anyway;
With all due respect... what are you smoking? She could have just lay there without moving her arms, and she would have still gone under 1:00. There's a part of the video that is looking up at Phelps... you can see the wake pattern behind him. It looks like the wake pattern of a ski boat moving through the water. She got a _gigantic_ draft off of Phelps in that race.
Especially because the rest of the pool was empty. If there were swimmers in the other 6 (or 8) lanes, there would be lots of other wake in the pool causing different wave patterns. But the pool was empty and flat except for the two swimmers. Talk about _optimal_ drafting conditions!
-Rick
