Copying this from another forum I frequent. I've wondered this myself, maybe someone here has the answer.
Original thread:
www.flyertalk.com/.../showthread.php
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Why isn't "swimming" a single event like "gymnastics" is?
I mean, you can get medals for the 100m butterfly, 400m relay, 200m backstroke (I don't know, I'm making those particular examples up); but the gymnasts don't get separate medals for hoops, uneven bars, floor exercise, etc.
There's alot of medals because that's the official number of events in international swim meets. They didn't even include some events that are included in other big meets, such as the 800 free, 50 fly, 50 back, 50 ***.
I've noticed the non-swim press constantly bitches about this, but it's how it is, it's how the sport is. The Olympics is the Super Bowl of swimming, it's the most prestigious thing we got, let the swimmers have their 32 medals.
There's alot of medals because that's the official number of events in international swim meets. They didn't even include some events that are included in other big meets, such as the 800 free, 50 fly, 50 back, 50 ***.
I've noticed the non-swim press constantly bitches about this, but it's how it is, it's how the sport is. The Olympics is the Super Bowl of swimming, it's the most prestigious thing we got, let the swimmers have their 32 medals.
