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
Funny how the doubters all provide one specific swimmer or one comment by a swimmer, when the overall numbers simply show a massive shift in times.
Comparing the top 8 times (or top 16 or top 25 in the world) is about as good a comparisons as you will get. It does not involve particular swimmers and it takes out the "freak factor" (somebody like Phelps).
Today - Women's 200 Free it took 1:59.98 for top 16. The last two trials it took 2:02.6 and 2:02.5. There were 46 girls under 2:02 this morning. There were 8 in prelims at Long Beach.
Funny how the doubters all provide one specific swimmer or one comment by a swimmer, when the overall numbers simply show a massive shift in times.
Comparing the top 8 times (or top 16 or top 25 in the world) is about as good a comparisons as you will get. It does not involve particular swimmers and it takes out the "freak factor" (somebody like Phelps).
Today - Women's 200 Free it took 1:59.98 for top 16. The last two trials it took 2:02.6 and 2:02.5. There were 46 girls under 2:02 this morning. There were 8 in prelims at Long Beach.
