Yes - one more time it's about the suit:
Here is a comparison to 2004 and what it took to make top 16 (top 8 for the 400) over the first 7 events:
2004 listed first then 2008 then the approx. % drop
400 IM - 4:24.8 to 4:21.0 1.5%
100 Fly - 1:01.29 to 59.97 2%
400 Free - 3:55.0 to 3:51.4 1.6%
400 IM - 4:49.57 to 4:43.2 2.3%
100 Br - 1:04.0 to 1:02.36 2.5%
100 Bk - 1:04.12 to 1:02.31 2.6%
200 Free - 1:51.1 to 1:48.76 2.2%
Ok - to be fair, people are getting faster, but I would guess at least a 1.5% drop across the board for the suit -- that is net time !
Parents
Former Member
Final post by me on this subject -- here are the exact numbers for the first 4 days:
I took 16th place, because that earns an evening swim now, plus one can be certain that swimmers around that place go all out.
I compared all the 100 and 200 events where prelims have been completed (12 events). I compared 16th place between 1984 vs 2004 and then 2004 vs. 2008.
Between 1984 and 2004 the 16th place time dropped on average 2.3%.
Between 2004 and 2008 the 16th place time also dropped 2.3%.
In 1984, swimmers had to touch the wall with their hand in the backstroke turn, Breaststrokers were not allowed to get their head under water or do a dolphin kick, and the Fly kick was only done during the butterfly swim.
I don't know the exact reason and how it all works, but the suits are making the good swimmers into great swimmers. Pick any event and look at places 5-25. Compare their times to last year, 4 years ago or any other way.
Based on this, I make a prediction right now -- I will come very close to my PR in the 100 Free this summer, and I should not be able to do so by any normal means.
Final post by me on this subject -- here are the exact numbers for the first 4 days:
I took 16th place, because that earns an evening swim now, plus one can be certain that swimmers around that place go all out.
I compared all the 100 and 200 events where prelims have been completed (12 events). I compared 16th place between 1984 vs 2004 and then 2004 vs. 2008.
Between 1984 and 2004 the 16th place time dropped on average 2.3%.
Between 2004 and 2008 the 16th place time also dropped 2.3%.
In 1984, swimmers had to touch the wall with their hand in the backstroke turn, Breaststrokers were not allowed to get their head under water or do a dolphin kick, and the Fly kick was only done during the butterfly swim.
I don't know the exact reason and how it all works, but the suits are making the good swimmers into great swimmers. Pick any event and look at places 5-25. Compare their times to last year, 4 years ago or any other way.
Based on this, I make a prediction right now -- I will come very close to my PR in the 100 Free this summer, and I should not be able to do so by any normal means.
