I know they've been doing semi-finals in international meets (and U.S. Trials) for a couple of years now. Anyone ever heard a good explanation as to why? Trials and finals make sense, because everyone swims in the same pool on the same day, and the top 16 out of 100 or so swim head-to-head at night. But what do semi-finals accomplish? Seems like just another opporunity for the likes of Phelps and Hoff to sandbag, and another opportunity for everyone else to get tired before their race 'counts.'
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Former Member
TV played a big part in the semi-final format being re-introduced right before the 2000 games.
They are able to build up more drama and excitement to hype, plus get more ad money, since the meet goes a few days longer.
Maybe the Aussie TV moguls... but the USA's? I wouldn't think so--why would they make something longer and more drawn out when they've grown so adept at editing the whole mess down to a couple minutes? Plus semi's make it more confusing to non-swimmers, who watch at night to see who'll make the team, but with some events in semis, some in finals, variance by 400s and above vs. 200s and below, it's hard to keep straight.
The US does it to match the Olympic schedule.
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Former Member
TV played a big part in the semi-final format being re-introduced right before the 2000 games.
They are able to build up more drama and excitement to hype, plus get more ad money, since the meet goes a few days longer.
Maybe the Aussie TV moguls... but the USA's? I wouldn't think so--why would they make something longer and more drawn out when they've grown so adept at editing the whole mess down to a couple minutes? Plus semi's make it more confusing to non-swimmers, who watch at night to see who'll make the team, but with some events in semis, some in finals, variance by 400s and above vs. 200s and below, it's hard to keep straight.
The US does it to match the Olympic schedule.
