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 !
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Former Member
I bet they are rested, but not fully rested. Especially Michael. There is absolutely no question his big meet is the Olympics. Trials is merely a necessary stop in the road for him.
Daaave, I agree there are other possible factors at play here, but is there any reason these factors have figured in more in the past four years than they have previously? Anecodotal evidence that the latest generation of tech suits are a quantum leap over the previous suits is overwhelming, IMO.
I doubt any of us can prove it - but my own "guess" is that the #1 reason for the fast times this year is four years of training timed to peak for Beijing. The #2 reason is an accumulation of training advances around the world over many years. #3 could be suits. #4 could be the psychological effect of the swimsuits (the belief that they are faster).
I bet they are rested, but not fully rested. Especially Michael. There is absolutely no question his big meet is the Olympics. Trials is merely a necessary stop in the road for him.
Daaave, I agree there are other possible factors at play here, but is there any reason these factors have figured in more in the past four years than they have previously? Anecodotal evidence that the latest generation of tech suits are a quantum leap over the previous suits is overwhelming, IMO.
I doubt any of us can prove it - but my own "guess" is that the #1 reason for the fast times this year is four years of training timed to peak for Beijing. The #2 reason is an accumulation of training advances around the world over many years. #3 could be suits. #4 could be the psychological effect of the swimsuits (the belief that they are faster).
