In the freestyle relay(s), the top 6 goes to the Olympics.
Yet, all the other events it is only the top 2.
That should change. Every athlete that makes the qualifying time should go to the Olympics. Look at the men's 100 back, the top 6 at the 2008 US trials swam faster than the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist. Surely the 5th swimmer could have a better performance in the "big" pool.
Sending only 2 in each event "waters" down the potential performances at the Olympics, ultimately making the semi-finals less competitive. (other phrases could be used) The bottom line is, the top 16 at the Olympics should represent the fastest in the world.
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What is the definition of best? Sorry, couldn't resist.
I don't know if this is true so someone with knowledge help me but I heard (at some point) that the Olympic cuts were easier than the US Trials Cuts. That would seem plausible to me give some of the really pathetic swimming in the early rounds of the Olympics.
That's not quite true, but it's close.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics
Let's look at the men's 50 free as an example. The Olympic B standard is 23.13. Any country with one swimmer that fast could send him to Beijing. The A standard is 22.35. A country with two swimmers meeting that time could send both of them. Some countries, like Britain, choose to send only swimmers who meet the A standard.
The American trials cut in the 50 is 23.49. A little bit slower than the B cut. The slower swimmers you see in the Olympics are probably the one standard-free entry per gender allowed to each country. A lot of them do the 50 and 100 free.
What is the definition of best? Sorry, couldn't resist.
I don't know if this is true so someone with knowledge help me but I heard (at some point) that the Olympic cuts were easier than the US Trials Cuts. That would seem plausible to me give some of the really pathetic swimming in the early rounds of the Olympics.
That's not quite true, but it's close.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics
Let's look at the men's 50 free as an example. The Olympic B standard is 23.13. Any country with one swimmer that fast could send him to Beijing. The A standard is 22.35. A country with two swimmers meeting that time could send both of them. Some countries, like Britain, choose to send only swimmers who meet the A standard.
The American trials cut in the 50 is 23.49. A little bit slower than the B cut. The slower swimmers you see in the Olympics are probably the one standard-free entry per gender allowed to each country. A lot of them do the 50 and 100 free.
