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?
The information about marathon swims is very interesting. I also checked the correlation of the paces between 50-100-200 meter events. Decrease in the pace with the increasing distance is much higher in mens events. It means women have better endurance, it is very clear.
Careful comparing open water swimming between men and women. The events are HIGHLY variable in terms of conditions and cold water plays different effects on core temperatures with different fat levels. You may be measuring insulation more than endurance.
I'd stick Hackett or Vendt against ANY female in the world in a 20-40 mile race and even bet my house if the wave conditions were equal for competitors and temperature above 70 degrees...... i.e. a purely endurance comparison.
Also remember the law of small numbers. It takes less effect to make a higher percentage change with small numbers than larger numbers.
John Smith
Very few women could compete with men in marathon races. There were a few who would occasionally be up with the men under all conditions. But they were never consistent.
In cold water some did very well. Greta Anderson did do well in any conditions but never beat the top men in any conditions. Judy Denyse also could be up with the men in any conditions and was very tough. They beat many of the great warm water marathon swimmers in cold water.
Women in general not able to compete with the men.
Very few women could compete with men in marathon races. There were a few who would occasionally be up with the men under all conditions. But they were never consistent.
In cold water some did very well. Greta Anderson did do well in any conditions but never beat the top men in any conditions. Judy Denyse also could be up with the men in any conditions and was very tough. They beat many of the great warm water marathon swimmers in cold water.
Women in general not able to compete with the men.
I'm heading for the nearest fallout shelter. :bolt:
Fort just give me the facts. Why men are better - www.survivalmonkey.com/.../APPA.PDF
Don't forget (S)he-Man!!! :weightlifter:
Men have bigger hearts and lungs and testosterone. Other than that, they can't compete with women. :)
With Speedo's great product design team in place, I think that they recognize the value of at least having us women look like the men since we can't keep up with them.
I take solace in the fact that Speedo makes me look exactly like a man in my FSII body suit. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! :laugh2::laugh2:
I take solace in the fact that Speedo makes me look exactly like a man in my FSII body suit.
Last year when I first asked a local age-group coach about the advantages of technical suits, he thought for a minute and then replied "Their biggest advantage is probably that they give women swimmers the bodies they had as 14-year olds."
He was too polite to say something like "it also gives aging masters swimmers, such as yourself, a body closer the one they had in college."
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?
funny you say that. I recall John Trembley (coaching at Mercersburg acadamy at the time) saying that at some point in the not too distant future, women will be faster than men in breastroke. This was 1982 or 83.
