If the new regulations are put into effect basically limiting swimmers to knee skins, what world records will last the longest?
I think the 50 free for men and 400 free for women. I could see the 50 free lasting for 25 years. The 400 free for maybe, I dont know, 50 years?!?!?
If WR becone so scarce or even unattainable viewership will really fall off - right now swimming is big every four years - outside of the hard core fan - and this year in Rome was the exception. If that red line is closely chased, then it is exciting (this 35 WR and 41 WR at a single meet is a bit unreal). But if not - people will get off the bandwagon, and unlike baseball - the sport doesn't seem to have the viewership to support many lean years. If they are smart FINA will change somethings to promote the swimmer, minimize the impact of technology and move the sport ahead. Then again this is FINA and this may only happen when pigs fly.
Dunno about that. The Cavic v. Phelps 100 fly showdown seemed more about the quest for redemption and man on man combat than the record. The WR was a component, but a secondary one.
Joe Sixpack understands how close the Beijing race was, the smack talk leading up to the Roma Rematch, the fact that Cavic posted a faster time in the prelims, and the fact that Cavic was leading at the 50. He doesn't understand how mind-blowing it is to go sub-50; to him, that's just a number that bears no relation to his (or, truthfully, my) daily reality.
If WR becone so scarce or even unattainable viewership will really fall off - right now swimming is big every four years - outside of the hard core fan - and this year in Rome was the exception. If that red line is closely chased, then it is exciting (this 35 WR and 41 WR at a single meet is a bit unreal). But if not - people will get off the bandwagon, and unlike baseball - the sport doesn't seem to have the viewership to support many lean years. If they are smart FINA will change somethings to promote the swimmer, minimize the impact of technology and move the sport ahead. Then again this is FINA and this may only happen when pigs fly.
Dunno about that. The Cavic v. Phelps 100 fly showdown seemed more about the quest for redemption and man on man combat than the record. The WR was a component, but a secondary one.
Joe Sixpack understands how close the Beijing race was, the smack talk leading up to the Roma Rematch, the fact that Cavic posted a faster time in the prelims, and the fact that Cavic was leading at the 50. He doesn't understand how mind-blowing it is to go sub-50; to him, that's just a number that bears no relation to his (or, truthfully, my) daily reality.
