I think it's unfortunately for the same "reasons" that women's tennis plays 3 sets, and men play 5. It would be just inhumane to ask our female athletes to have that kind of stamina to match that of our big strong burly macho men. I mean, they've got to finish up more quickly so they can get back home to the kitchen and child-rearing and laundry. Argh. Old sterotypes die hard I guess.
It really is a shame. Now, it would be tricky to fit the 400, 800, and 1500 frees into an Olympic program, with prelims, semis (400) and finals. That's a lot of swimming for the distance people. But we shouldn't be restricting based on gender. It's embarassing IMHO.
-Rick
Um, I think he was asking why don't the men have an 800 Free event and the women an 1500 event in the Olympics? Which is something that I have always wondered. Seems a huge jump for the men 400 and then 1500. Plus I am QUITE sure that there are quite a few women MORE than capable of going fast in the 1500.
also 4x50FR and 4x50Medley relays
If we get those I want a 4x200 medley relay as well.
I just assumed the women have "always" swum the 800 at the Olympics and the men the 1500, but this isn't really the case. The 800 has only been on the women's program since 1968. Before that the longest women's event was the 400! The 1500 has been on the men's program since 1904.
I think the obvious answer to David's question is fairly simple: sexism.
All swimming distances are arbitrary. I'm sure there's some historical reasoning, but it still won't justify the selection of distances. Where's the 50m breastroke, the 150m freestyle or 400m backstroke? Why are pools 50m instead of 60m? Why not a 3000m freestyle? Because a decision had to be made somewhere and it's what we're stuck with. It's like asking why are American football fields 100 yards instead of 120? It is what it is. There will be those who talk about time constraints for a meet or how the consititution of women may have been viewed as weaker (way back when) so they only got an 800. In the end, you have to choose from what's available and the selection of events never pretended to be rationally justified. By the way, I'm the world record holder in the 112.5m butterfrog, so I'm like an authority on these things.
Women can't handle the 1500.....and the men are leaving the 800 to the women so they can say they do a little distance!!!:mooning::mooning:
Just kidding of course....it's definitely a soar subject with some women.... rightfully so if I may say so.....
i think there's a pretty easy solution to all this: eliminate semi-finals. this will save so much time that we would be able to add 800 Free for men, 1500m free for women, and 50's of all strokes. also 4x50FR and 4x50Medley relays for both sexes :)
You make a good point. Who actually made the decision about limiting swimming to two slots? Is it the IOC or FINA that has made the decision about the 1500 at Olympics? Now that I am thinking about it, it would make more sense that it would be the IOC.
It doesn't really bother me that they limit the distance slots, I do think there would be a lot of redundancy and there are enough freestyle events already.
But I see no reason the distances should be different for men and women, they should just have the 1500 for both genders.
