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.'
I have no inside information,but I am sure it is about money.It is a way to add more events without adding more swimmers(which is the"problem" with adding more events.) At the Olympics each session is sold for big bucks,more sessions equal more bucks.I hate it as it decreases the chances of WRs as the swimmers have more swims and come to finals less rested. I'll also continue my rant about 2 swimmers/country.In track they get 3.This one I know what happened,the other countries were tired of so many Americans winning medals that they took the opportunity of our(stupid,stupid.stupid)1980 boycott to pass a new rule.In a rational world there would just be a time standard for the Olympics,if you make it your in.
I have no inside information,but I am sure it is about money.It is a way to add more events without adding more swimmers(which is the"problem" with adding more events.) At the Olympics each session is sold for big bucks,more sessions equal more bucks.I hate it as it decreases the chances of WRs as the swimmers have more swims and come to finals less rested. I'll also continue my rant about 2 swimmers/country.In track they get 3.This one I know what happened,the other countries were tired of so many Americans winning medals that they took the opportunity of our(stupid,stupid.stupid)1980 boycott to pass a new rule.In a rational world there would just be a time standard for the Olympics,if you make it your in.
