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.
The Marathon is listed, unless the 42.2 km means something else. Like you said it, including all of the 'field' events with running would be akin to including diving, water polo, or synchronized swimming with swimming.
Except as someone already posted, there are athletes who do both track and field and events that explicitly combine the two. There is no aquatic decathalon where you have to do synchro, swim, play some water polo etc.
But it is a stupid argument anyway (and I know you are just reporting it). It is like that cause it is. High-number medal winners will pretty much always come in gymnastics, swimming, and track & field. And since it is just an interesting statistic, not proof of divinity, sour grapes that your favorite sport is not among the contenders is kinda bizarre.
The Marathon is listed, unless the 42.2 km means something else. Like you said it, including all of the 'field' events with running would be akin to including diving, water polo, or synchronized swimming with swimming.
Except as someone already posted, there are athletes who do both track and field and events that explicitly combine the two. There is no aquatic decathalon where you have to do synchro, swim, play some water polo etc.
But it is a stupid argument anyway (and I know you are just reporting it). It is like that cause it is. High-number medal winners will pretty much always come in gymnastics, swimming, and track & field. And since it is just an interesting statistic, not proof of divinity, sour grapes that your favorite sport is not among the contenders is kinda bizarre.
