As a math guy, this is something I've been pondering for a while. Is there a limit to how fast we can swim. For instance, I remember a discussion point a while back was that there was no physical way a human could run the 100m in less than 9 seconds, that the forces you would create within your body in order to run that fast would cause you muscles to tear and bones to shatter.
In swimming we're seeing a HUGE leap forward in technology as it pertains both to how we train and what we put on our bodies. For instance, how fast could Matt Biondi swum a 50 or 100 if he had access to the wealth of information we have now just 15 years later in regards to training, nutrition and suits.
Could he possibly 20 47 low in the 100 if he were in his 20's/early 30's right now?
And to my point, imagine the 50 free. How fast is "impossible"? We just say Bousquet take 1/4 second of the 50 free WR. What's the limit? You'd think at some point someone's going to set a WR that will never be broken.
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Former Member
Here's an explanation that is based on the Law Of Conversation Of Energy.
The limit on the speed of a given swimmer is when the maximum power available (the amount of energy that he/she can physically generate per unit of time multiplied by the factor of propulsion efficency) is equal to the power required to move that person's body through the water (against drag forces) at that given speed.
Mathematically stated, the maximum speed (S) that a given person can swim is equal to that person’s power to drag ratio (S= Power/Drag).
Dolphin 2
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Former Member
Here's an explanation that is based on the Law Of Conversation Of Energy.
The limit on the speed of a given swimmer is when the maximum power available (the amount of energy that he/she can physically generate per unit of time multiplied by the factor of propulsion efficency) is equal to the power required to move that person's body through the water (against drag forces) at that given speed.
Mathematically stated, the maximum speed (S) that a given person can swim is equal to that person’s power to drag ratio (S= Power/Drag).
Dolphin 2