Omega says Cavic touched first

Former Member
Former Member
I searched and couldn't find this posted, but I could have missed it. Anyways, its pretty interesting because the official basically says Cavic touched first, but didn't "push" and slid, while Phelps pushed with force, etc etc. (He talks about this right at halfway through the video) www.swimchampions.com/.../ Personally I think you have to live with however the time system works as long as it is functional. If it was functional and Cavic didn't press hard enough, its tough luck. The only alternative is to just present a "tie" when you are within the margin of error of the equipment.
  • Frame six is a blowup of frame 5 and it doesn't look like Cavic has touched to me sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../content.6.html I'm not sure what people are seeing here that I'm not. I realize it's difficult to tell, but it certainly looks like he hasn't touched yet. Even if it did show Cavic touching it certainly doesn't show he touched before Phelps since Phelps is clearly touching the wall in that same frame. As far as the Omega guy, who knows? Maybe he's a crackpot? If he's seen video showing Cavic touching first I'd like to see it. Seems to me the Serbians delegation that filed a protest was satisfied Phelps won when they were shown the tape after the race. Again, if there's evidence that Cavic touched first, let's see it.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Didn't everyone from across the globe stare at these photos and agree that Phelps' fingers touched before Cavics? sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../content.5.html
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I am a little puzzled how the Omega rep seems so convinced - but I am somewhat speculating that he would not make this up unless he had clear evidence. The pictures we have seen simply can not tell you clearly ...they do a photo finish with high speed cameras in track - you trust the "eye" in a sport that is a lot faster than swimming.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Since we are just talking and all that - any speculation on what would be in place already if Phelps would have been the one "maybe touching first, but not triggering the touch pad" ....
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    The same man in the interview said several months ago there was no way to tell from the visual evidence available who touched first. He only presented a scenario where Cavic could theoretically have touched first. Where is the evidence that he did?
  • So how does would using photographic evidence work? Cavic would get the Gold but his official time would be .01 slower than Phelps? Add .01 to Phelps' time and apply a tie-break? Subtract .02 from Cavic's time? Add .02 to Phelps' time? What a can of worms. Using track is an apples/oranges argument. Track finish rules are any part of the head or torso crossing OVER the finish line thru the air in any manner. That would not work for swimming. Swimming has specific finish rules for each stroke and because of this requires a defined, finite barrier. Ain't nobody swimming thru the wall. Until some sort of laser timing system is created, touchpads are the best system we have. Agreed. I just don't see swim clubs all over the world installing underwater cameras to judge finishes by photograph anytime soon...
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Keep in mind these photos came out like a week after the race.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Phelps touched first and this photo is indisputable proof: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../content.5.html Zero in on Cavic's fingers with photoshop and you can see he has yet to touch the wall.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Phelps touched first and this photo is indisputable proof: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../content.5.html Zero in on Cavic's fingers with photoshop and you can see he has yet to touch the wall. Doesn't look indisputable.
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    Quote from the Omega rep "it is for sure, the video also shows it, that Cavic touched the pad before Phelps" ... this is a pretty clear statement and what possible reason could he have to make this up ?? I also looked at the SI picture number 5 of 8 and enlarged it ... I think Cavic's finger is already touching the wall .. but I am not sure.
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