It's another FINA screw up, not as serious as not requiring enough lifeguards on kayaks for open water swims or setting an acceptable water temperature range for races but when it comes to breaking records, people should be the age they are & not the beneficary of the FINA loophole.
See, I disagree about this. FINA's definition basically says they only care what year you were born, not the exact date. I really don't feel that, because I was born in May, that I'm somehow at a disadvantage to someone born five months later and therefore deserve to be in a different age group.
The bottom line is it's six one way, half a dozen the other. Either way you are in each age group for exactly five years.
edit: one other thing I just thought about. I think--at least historically--there are certain countries that don't record birth date, just year. Since FINA is an international organization they'd have to consider that. The safe thing to do is just base your age on birth year.
It's another FINA screw up, not as serious as not requiring enough lifeguards on kayaks for open water swims or setting an acceptable water temperature range for races but when it comes to breaking records, people should be the age they are & not the beneficary of the FINA loophole.
See, I disagree about this. FINA's definition basically says they only care what year you were born, not the exact date. I really don't feel that, because I was born in May, that I'm somehow at a disadvantage to someone born five months later and therefore deserve to be in a different age group.
The bottom line is it's six one way, half a dozen the other. Either way you are in each age group for exactly five years.
edit: one other thing I just thought about. I think--at least historically--there are certain countries that don't record birth date, just year. Since FINA is an international organization they'd have to consider that. The safe thing to do is just base your age on birth year.
