I made a quick analysis of current swimming world records of female and male swimmers and here are my findings: (50 LCM pool, 50,100,200 all styles including 200 IM, 400 free and IM, 800, 1500 free)
Female swimmers are 10.96 % slower on average
In 50, 100 and 200 events the differences are 11.9%, 11.5%, 11.3% respectively (more distance, less variance)
Largest gap is in 50 back (13.6%)
Smallest gap in 1500 free (7.8%)
Considering the average of 50, 100 and 200 of 4 events, largest gap is in backstroke (12.2%), butterfly (11.7%), free (11.4%) and *** (10.3%).In athletics, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 and 3000 track events, the gap is 10.43%. When I took out the incredible 100 of Florence G. Joyner, the gap is nearly the same as in the swimming (10.98%).
Lowest gap is in 100, with 7.7%, largest gap is in 800 with 12.0%, but most of the differences are between 10% and 12%.
What do you think?
"What do you think?"
1) Men are faster in all distances. 2) Interesting. 3) You got way too much time on your hands (come to think of it, maybe I do too).:wave:
Men have teststerone and therefore more muscle mass(except for a few doping females) so of course they will be faster,especially in sprints.I wonder if the breaststroke times were as close as they were because Liesel Jones is just so fast(1 1/2 sec ahead of the rest of the world in the 100 BR)
Former Member
Re: Men are faster in short distances
For now. :)
Former Member
It would probably amount to a couple percent difference if you took the two second best breaststrokers. I'm curious, for calculating strokes, did you just take the 100 yard/meter times, or did you take all the different lengths?
A runner named Ann Trason was overall winner of the 1994 Leadville 100 mile trail race...
Ann Trason also held the 24 hour world record for many years and beat the men year after year in the 24 hour championships (for running that is).
Former Member
I just took 50 LCM world records into consideration. 50,100,200 all styles including 200 IM, 400 free and IM, 800, 1500 free.
I think it is interesting that he largest gaps are in backstroke. It seems to me that butterfly needs more power. Maybe the reason is, butterfly needs a lot of body flexibility and women are more flexible.
It is also interesting to see that the gap is narrow in breaststroke. This style needs a lot of power. But, as well as I know breaststroke is the style that contribution of legs is most important. Can we conclude that womens' legs are powerful, making the gap narrower?
Former Member
Can we conclude that womens' legs are powerful, making the gap narrower?
OK...I'll bite. Not being a breaststroker...here's a theory.
It's a short axis stroke which involves frontal resistance.
Most men have a larger upper torso than the ladies...and therefore have more body mass to act as an obstacle to on coming water.
Women being a bit slighter (and not as top heavy) might have less surface area pushing on the water when they lunge forward...and therefore less drag from frontal resistance.
Thus the narrower gap in times for breaststroke events.
Former Member
No real surprizes here, it's long been known that men are faster in the short distances and that the gap closes most of all in ultra-endurance type events. Women have held the overall record for the English Channel and other very long swims from time to time and may again. A runner named Ann Trason was overall winner of the 1994 Leadville 100 mile trail race, and a British cyclist named Beryl Burton, who had a very long and illustrious career, was the overall winner and new record setter for the British 12-hour cycling championship, in 1966 I think it was.
As for *** stroke, yes women have very strong legs, probably because we have to carry so much weight on them with pregnancy and childcare. The long and tedious aspects of childcare may explain the ability to do endurance events. Or maybe men just have short attention spans, poor things. :D :thhbbb:
Former Member
Or maybe men just have short attention spans, poor things. :D :thhbbb:
I forgot what my point was when you mentioned women's legs...
Women in general not able to compete with the men.
Don't forget (S)he-Man!!! :weightlifter:
Men have bigger hearts and lungs and testosterone. Other than that, they can't compete with women. :)
