Poll: should Libby Lenton have the record

I was in the "yes" category until a discussion with my kids coach--a trials qualifier. Her argument boiled down to this one comment: "She was drafting off Phelps. Even I (meaning she, not me) could swim a world record time drafting off Phelps." Before our discussion, it seemed wrong, since I'm sure LL worked her butt off to keep pace. I'm still sure she worked her butt off, but watching the video, it does appear she got the benefit of a draft for the first 50m. Having said, that, I wonder what FINA would have done if LL had swum that time and Natalie Coughlin would have swum the lead leg for USA? I do think there is a difference between all mens/womens heats and mixed heats. Men do have a strength advantage, and in this case I think it benefitted LL. I also believe Masters meets handle the issue by seeding by time, thereby placing swimmers of similar ability in the same heats and minimizing the strength/draft advantage.

I was in the "yes" category until a discussion with my kids coach--a trials qualifier. Her argument boiled down to this one comment: "She was drafting off Phelps. Even I (meaning she, not me) could swim a world record time drafting off Phelps." Before our discussion, it seemed wrong, since I'm sure LL worked her butt off to keep pace. I'm still sure she worked her butt off, but watching the video, it does appear she got the benefit of a draft for the first 50m. Having said, that, I wonder what FINA would have done if LL had swum that time and Natalie Coughlin would have swum the lead leg for USA? I do think there is a difference between all mens/womens heats and mixed heats. Men do have a strength advantage, and in this case I think it benefitted LL. I also believe Masters meets handle the issue by seeding by time, thereby placing swimmers of similar ability in the same heats and minimizing the strength/draft advantage.