OK--I must not be understanding something. Last night on TV and then in an AP article I read (see below) it was mentioned that Grevers was adding the silver from the 100 back to the gold he got for the men's 4 X 100 free relay? He didn't swim in the final relay that won the gold. How does that work?
Thanks for the insight--it's driving me crazy!!!
BEIJING (AP) — (I cut most of this article out...)
Peirsol defended his Olympic title in the 100 backstroke with a world record of 52.54, and teammate Matt Grevers made it a 1-2 U.S. finish. Peirsol beat his own mark, 52.89, set at last month's national trials in Omaha, Neb., while Grevers added to the gold he won for swimming the preliminaries of the 400 free relay.
Tough decision for the coaches -- I think they would put in Keller if it was a close race. Experience does matter - but they will win no matter who swims. They may just put in Berens based on the faster time - but also thinking (and not saying) that he is the future and he may need this experience when the race is close next time around.
The prelim medal is a little strange - especially since the swimmers don't get on the award stand. I know they don't "count" it as a medal win in other countries.
I don't see how you put Keller in over Berens. It wasn't by much, but Berens outsplit Keller. Time should be the final arbiter in this case. Experience is overrated.
They'll put Klete in the finals I think. Berens needed to beat him by a solid margin to swim finals. The fact that he has been part of the finals relay at the past Olympics at WC's will weigh in his favor.
There were two swimmers that had faster morning prelim times in Melbourne last year (Walters and Cramer). But Klete got the spot even though his 400 free was also far below expectations. It ended up paying off as Klete put in a great leg. I can't see the coaches doing anything differently.
I am certain that in 2004 the team was told thaht reaction times would be factored out. THey did not want people to push their starts in prelims. This is why Komisarcz, whose split (I believe) was faster than Piper did not get to swim the relay in the finals. Edit add: and Komisarcz was the far more experienced swimmer so that is completely irrelevent.
PS: the 4x100 set the WR in prelims. WIll that record be ratified? WIll swimmers recieve a bonus? WIll Grevers get two bonuses?
I am certain that in 2004 the team was told thaht reaction times would be factored out. THey did not want people to push their starts in prelims. This is why Komisarcz, whose split (I believe) was faster than Piper did not get to swim the relay in the finals. Edit add: and Komisarcz was the far more experienced swimmer so that is completely irrelevent.
PS: the 4x100 set the WR in prelims. WIll that record be ratified? WIll swimmers recieve a bonus? WIll Grevers get two bonuses?
This (subtracting RT) was documented in Natalie Coughlin's biography Golden Girl although the girls were not named. The coaches specifically told the girls they would do this so there was no incentive to cut their starts too close. They wanted safe starts in prelims. I think this is a smart strategy. These athletes are good enough that they can do fast and safe starts any time they need to.
