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.
I think the link I provided is in a restricted part of those forums. Anyway, another poster there put this comparison. This is simply a copy/paste, not my thoughts, but it should get some interesting discussion.
__________________________________________
Running:
100 m
100/110 m hurdles
200 m
400 m
400 m hurdles
800 m
1500 m (men)
3000 m (women)
3000 m steeplechase
5000 m
10000 m (men)
4x100 m relay
4x400 m relay
42.2 km
Total: 13 races, but not feasible for a 100m runner to do well in the longest distances and vice versa. Most runners compete in no more than 2 or 3 distances because of the high degree of specialization.
Swimming:
50 m free
100 m free
200 m free
400 m free
800 m free (women)
1500 m free (men)
10000 m
100 m butterfly
200 m butterfly
100 m backstroke
200 m backstroke
100 m ***
200 m ***
200 m individual medley
400 m individual medley
4x100 m free relay
4x200 m free relay
4x100 m medley relay
Total: 18 races, a racer can be competitive in 10+ different distances because of the similarities in distance and technique.
I think the link I provided is in a restricted part of those forums. Anyway, another poster there put this comparison. This is simply a copy/paste, not my thoughts, but it should get some interesting discussion.
__________________________________________
Running:
100 m
100/110 m hurdles
200 m
400 m
400 m hurdles
800 m
1500 m (men)
3000 m (women)
3000 m steeplechase
5000 m
10000 m (men)
4x100 m relay
4x400 m relay
42.2 km
Total: 13 races, but not feasible for a 100m runner to do well in the longest distances and vice versa. Most runners compete in no more than 2 or 3 distances because of the high degree of specialization.
Swimming:
50 m free
100 m free
200 m free
400 m free
800 m free (women)
1500 m free (men)
10000 m
100 m butterfly
200 m butterfly
100 m backstroke
200 m backstroke
100 m ***
200 m ***
200 m individual medley
400 m individual medley
4x100 m free relay
4x200 m free relay
4x100 m medley relay
Total: 18 races, a racer can be competitive in 10+ different distances because of the similarities in distance and technique.
