The Olympic Pool

[Silver Charm]

They need to measure this thing because they may find it is 3 feet short.

When have you ever seen something where they set a world record every race?

TGJB what kind of variant do you give this water?

This stuff has got to be thinner than normal

[Frost King]

Records are being set because of the aerodynamics of the wet suits.

[SoCalMan2]

Frost King Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Records are being set because of the aerodynamics
> of the wet suits.


I assume you meant hydrodynamics rather than aerodynamics, which brings me back to horseracing -- TGJB, there was quite a stir years ago (i forget when, but at least 15 years ago) when one of D. Wayne Lukas\'s clients arranged for aerodynamic silks (I think it was an owner\'s wife and if my memory is not failing me it was Joe Allen\'s wife).  There were a spate of articles suggesting that the lycra silks were worth a length or two over the classic billowy silks.  Is this something that needs to be figured into figures?  Is it? I note that in any given race, there is usually a split between the classic wearers and the lycra wearers.  Do you advise owners to use the lycra?

Also, separately, I remember more recently some commotion about nasal strips (hope i am remembering the right sport).  Was there a nasal strip issue in horseracing?  Where did things come out?

[fkach]

I know nothing about swimming or pool design, but I read that the wall design and giving extra space in the outside lanes are helping in some way. I think it also might be deeper than some pools.

Obviously, you can\'t judge the quality of these swimmers by time because they are probably improving due to training techniques and are also peaking. That makes it tough to seperate their ability from those other factors (including swimsuit). I think you have to look at the consistency of their performance, margins of victory, historical record of opponents....oh wait a minute, this isn\'t the class handicapping board. ;-)

[Silver Charm]

If some of the reason is the hydrodynamics of the suits then why are they not setting daily record in womens volleyball...........

[HP]

I did not understand how the design of the pool could yield faster times, but here it is...from the LA Times...


\"The new pools, which are deeper and now feature 10 lanes so the two outside lanes can remain empty, have also played a role because turbulence has been reduced. It\'s easier to swim fast in smooth water, and waves dissipate quickly into high-tech gutters. The pool in Beijing is also three meters deep, whereas most pools in previous Olympics were only two meters deep. That means a swimmer such as Phelps, who gets a turbo boost off the wall on his turns, can dive deeper and stay under water longer. According to his coach Bob Bowman, that helps him do his dolphin kick for a longer period of time, and helps him go faster.\"

They will probably break EVERY record between this and the suits.  Asterisks anyone?  It just goes to show how EVERY sport faces the same kinds of \"scale adjustments\" over time that Thoro-Graph gets challenged on when Jerry says \"the horses are getting faster.\"  

HP

[cubfan0316]

at least 2 events all phelps wore were briefs. suits?

[fkach]

If you had a big bet on Milorad Cavic against Michael Phelps last night, you probably didn\'t get much sleep. That had to be one of the toughest beats ever for a gold medal.

[Silver Charm]

Kind of reminded me of The Bart vs. John Henry in the Million.

I read where Phelps is digesting 12,000 calories a day. A diet that consists of a 5 egg cheeese omelet, french toast, extra thick chocolate chip pancakes, cups of coffee.

Wondering is this what the Track Chef is feeding the horses when Levine, Dutrow and company ship down to Monmouth.......

[xichibanx]

I can testify Monmouth does have a good track kitchen.