Poll: should Libby Lenton have the record

Lenoard not arguing with you--just expanding on a point that you've mentioned here (not neccessrily these being your beliefs) that there is something wrong with men pacing women in mixed events. The women still have to run it. I think pacing devices (other people or counters) are not an issue, provided the technology is distributed equally and not prohibitively expensive. In swimming I see it as not different to a fast skin, or the like. Why do sports allow "sciencing out" of chance and luck in some aspects but not others. Just my tuppence worth. True. The women do run the event. However, I think that it is a "shades of gray" type thing. For example, suppose that (in track) we have a race with 1 studly woman and 6 guys. The guys are all there to pace her. In that case, 5 of the guys can surround her, cut the wind, etc. The 6th guy is the pacer who runs in the second lane and makes sure the time is dead on for the record. Each of the guys gets $5,000 for his work from the woman's shoe sponsor. This puts a record attempt out of reach of most people. Another track example: A mixed race where a woman has several hired male pacers to go for some record. The other women have to not only race her, but race the men as well. Furthermore, if a record is on the line and the guys have $$ incentive to make it happen, things might get a bit rough in the pack. I also watched the video that George linked to and notice that the commentator(s) said something about Lenton being close to the line to "get in Phelp's wash" (I forget the exact quote), so, assuming that the commentators knew what they were talking about, she may have seen some advantage. One more thought before I have to get back to work. In a situation like this, it allows the athlete to go for absolute broke. Lenton KNEW that Phelps was going to beat her, so she could go all out without fear of the consequences. In an-all women race, taking a huge risk can have the actually have the consequence of getting beaten when, under normal circumstances, it shouldn't happen. Don't get me wrong. Her swim was amazing and she gets to be my current STDPS for now. -LBJ

Lenoard not arguing with you--just expanding on a point that you've mentioned here (not neccessrily these being your beliefs) that there is something wrong with men pacing women in mixed events. The women still have to run it. I think pacing devices (other people or counters) are not an issue, provided the technology is distributed equally and not prohibitively expensive. In swimming I see it as not different to a fast skin, or the like. Why do sports allow "sciencing out" of chance and luck in some aspects but not others. Just my tuppence worth. True. The women do run the event. However, I think that it is a "shades of gray" type thing. For example, suppose that (in track) we have a race with 1 studly woman and 6 guys. The guys are all there to pace her. In that case, 5 of the guys can surround her, cut the wind, etc. The 6th guy is the pacer who runs in the second lane and makes sure the time is dead on for the record. Each of the guys gets $5,000 for his work from the woman's shoe sponsor. This puts a record attempt out of reach of most people. Another track example: A mixed race where a woman has several hired male pacers to go for some record. The other women have to not only race her, but race the men as well. Furthermore, if a record is on the line and the guys have $$ incentive to make it happen, things might get a bit rough in the pack. I also watched the video that George linked to and notice that the commentator(s) said something about Lenton being close to the line to "get in Phelp's wash" (I forget the exact quote), so, assuming that the commentators knew what they were talking about, she may have seen some advantage. One more thought before I have to get back to work. In a situation like this, it allows the athlete to go for absolute broke. Lenton KNEW that Phelps was going to beat her, so she could go all out without fear of the consequences. In an-all women race, taking a huge risk can have the actually have the consequence of getting beaten when, under normal circumstances, it shouldn't happen. Don't get me wrong. Her swim was amazing and she gets to be my current STDPS for now. -LBJ