I was watching the Jason Lezak olympic swim again and noticed that he got 46 sec flat in his swim. Now the WR for the 100M was set later by Alain Bernard at 46.94. Are relay times normally better and if so, why? Thanks.
The second, third and fourth swimmers are faster because of a flying start, i.e. they are in motion when the previous swimmer is approaching the wall as opposed to the first swimmer or any other race where you start with the gun. I believe the time differential is up to .6 of a second. In other words the 2nd, 3rd and 4th swimmers on a relay will be about .6 faster on a relay start than with a flat start.
That still makes Lezak's swim unbelievable. Let's say we make that 46 flat a 46.6; still a world record speed.
The second, third and fourth swimmers are faster because of a flying start, i.e. they are in motion when the previous swimmer is approaching the wall as opposed to the first swimmer or any other race where you start with the gun. I believe the time differential is up to .6 of a second. In other words the 2nd, 3rd and 4th swimmers on a relay will be about .6 faster on a relay start than with a flat start.
That still makes Lezak's swim unbelievable. Let's say we make that 46 flat a 46.6; still a world record speed.
