Hi all, I remember reading a discussion here about what counted as a "lap" (one length versus a round trip), and there didn't seem to be a consensus. I'm interested to know the statistics. So please take the poll :)
I'm actually more concerned as to whether I swam 100 meters in 2 lengths of a 50m pool, or if I swam 102 meters because I didn't swim straight. And will my time at 100m be official instead of the touch at 102m? How about in a relay?
Actually, assuming that the pool is 25 yards long, 70 laps or lengths, or 35 "two ways" amounts to 1750 yards.
Nomenclature aside, the poor deluded triathlete has been swimming just slightly less than 1 mile on every one of his outings.
Your wife should consider pointing this out to him then next time she catches him bragging.
To most people, coming up 10 yards short won't make a difference. But to triathletes, I suspect it might, especially if she urges him to say, during all future bragging sessions, "Every time I go swimming, I swim almost a mile."
Former Member
A lap = 1 length, regardless of pool length (yard, meters, 25, 50, whatever).
The ONLY time I have ever heard a "lap" referred to as a "down-and-back" (meaning 2 laps) is by individuals who did not grow up swimming.
My wife was swimming a week ago and some triathlete was trying to show off for her by telling her his recent tri-times. My wife comes home and says, "I thought a lap was one length? This guys says it is two, and that we swims a mile every time he gets in the pools, which he says is 35 laps."
It is one length.
I've always heard and used lap as down and back. even as a guard the older swimmers would say they swam 33 laps or 64 times across.
How old? :) Wouldn't that be 66 lengths? Not sure I trust their terminology if they can't multiply :banana:
How old? :) Wouldn't that be 66 lengths? Not sure I trust their terminology if they can't multiply :banana:
haha, it's me that couldn't do the math or remember correctly :cane:
I believe it has been demonstrated that, by the dictionary, the definition is ambiguous.
In my book, a lap is two lengths of the pool.
But, because of the confusion, I _never_ use the term. If someone asks me "How many laps is a 500 free?" I answer "It is 20 lengths of the pool."
This is also why, back when starters used to announce the event, they migrated to using lengths. "8 lengths of the pool, freestyle. . . Take your mark ..." Also why when announcing bell/gun lap format, the starter would say "The lead swimmer will receive a warning signal with two lengths and 5 yards remaining."
Note also we call it a "bell lap" event, not a "bell laps" event. If a lap were one length, then on a "bell lap" event, you'd get the warning bell with 30 yards or 55 meters remaining (i.e., 1 length + 5 yards/meters), not TWO lengths + 5 yards/meters.
-Rick
