Monday, August 11, 2008
I hate the French
How sweet was it watching the anchor from the American relay team chase down the dirty French bastard that said their team was going to "crush" the Americans? That last 50 meters has to go down as one of the best swimming performances of all-time. Please comment, especially the ex-swimmers.
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11 comments:
Killah, I'd have to agree. That was one of the best swimming races I've ever seen...probably the best. I was going nuts that last 25 meters or so. I didn't think Lezak had a chance when he started his leg, but he swam the fastest leg in relay history by over half a second. Ureal...
BEST RACE IN OLYMPIC HISTORY. PERIOD.
look at all the story lines:
-americans are underdogs
-french are talking smack
-phelps' eight gold on the line
-five teams under previous WR
-phelps breaks AR in lead off swim
-lezak swims fastest split ever
-skip brainless still complains
-greatest come from behind race in modern olympic sports history.
DO NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED WHAT YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS IN YOUR LIFETIME. ESPECIALLY IF PHELPS WINS ALL EIGHT.
What was Skip complaining about?
5 teams broke the world record in this race (not including the 2 teams that broke it in the prelims). This has got to be attributed to the new suit technology. I can't think of any other reason for the absurdity of 5(7) teams breaking a record in a single race. If this is the case, I think these suits need to be banned. Records are meant to be broken, but not if the sole reason is technology. What does everyone think?
skip was complaining that it wasn't exciting to watch because phelps didn't anchor the relay. i'm not even going to say what i think about that comment.
the suits have helped, yes, but they aren't the end all. modern training techniques, the fact that smaller countries have more opportunities to work with world class coaches, the continuing rise of foreign swimmers going to swim collegiately in the states.
the suit isn't a drug. they don't have electric powered jets on them. they are merely a more hydrodynamic material than before. and let's not forget the mental factor that goes into it all.
Naps, I was hearing somewhere, that the suit compresses the muscles, almost like preloading a spring, giving the swimmer extra bursts of energy. Its kinda like that weightlifting jacket Siders used to wear I think. If that's true, it goes beyond what you are talking about.
its still just a suit. technology in cycling is constantly improving. technology in track and field is constantly improving. technology in bobsledding is constantly improving. athletes will always take advantage of technology.
I agree that the suit has nothing to do with it...records fall sooner or later. What about when swim caps and goggles were introduced and drastically dropped times? What about new golf balls and clubs that allow for more distance and spin? And everyone is wearing the suits, so it's not like one guy has an advantage over another.
Naps, the things you are talking about...modern training techniques, foreign swimmers in US schools...etc, the effects of those aren't seen over night. Sure, they will help lower times over a span of several years. But what is the only significant difference between 2007 and 2008 that allowed 7 teams to break world records in one race? The suit. Nothing else.
Killah, gold technology has indeed helped, but new clubs, clearly better than old ones, still do not help the golfer make a better swing. They simply take the golfer's existing swing and help make the results better. If what I am hearing about this suit is true, it actually physically assits the swimmer in making the swimmer motions. As I described earlier, its like preloading a spring. Same concept. Siders' weightlifting jacket isn't allowed in competition, neither should these suits.
dawg, you're wrong. i hate to break it to you, but you've been out of the swimming community for quite some time and you don't know when world records have been falling, in what events, by who, and with which suits. five teams broke the world record in the 4x100 free relay but only ONE broke the world record in the 4x200 free relay. you are basing your argument solely on anecdotal evidence. you hear this and you hear that, but you don't know anything! how many other people broke the world record in the 200 free other than phelps? no one. how about the 200 fly? no one. the 400 im? no one. no one broke thorpe's record in the 400 free...i could go on and on and on and on and on and on........................
Naps, 5 teams in one race...just seems fishy. Nice wordage by the way ('anecdotal evidence').
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