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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I think the record-breaking will slow down, eventually, but to me, swimming is still such a trailblazing sport right now. From collectively learning not to belly flop to using a track start to using dolphin kick, it seems there's still at least once-in-a-generation technique changes that speed up the sport. Right now, suits might be temporarily taking the place of any great technique revelation.
And when the record-breaking comes to a standstill, whose to say the human front of progress is not exactly like that of the individual's? That everyone can collectively come to a vast plateau, after which according to some, even greater heights can be attained?
I think the record-breaking will slow down, eventually, but to me, swimming is still such a trailblazing sport right now. From collectively learning not to belly flop to using a track start to using dolphin kick, it seems there's still at least once-in-a-generation technique changes that speed up the sport. Right now, suits might be temporarily taking the place of any great technique revelation.
And when the record-breaking comes to a standstill, whose to say the human front of progress is not exactly like that of the individual's? That everyone can collectively come to a vast plateau, after which according to some, even greater heights can be attained?
