Sports thread: Everything sport related here.
- Thread starter Gollevainen
- Start date
The World Cup record is different from the world record of this event.
Quickie
Colonel
It's still a major achievement. What's more, it is from the 100m World Record to the 800m World Record, albeit in a non-Olympic-sized pool for the latter.
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It is the world cup 800m record, not the 800m world record.
broadsword
Brigadier
More pertinent is how many of the top 800m swimmers were in that event.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
It's not even that pertinant. Nobody wins 100M and 400M and 800M in the 50m pool, not even close; the muscle type mix required is too different. But for some reason, that can (almost) happen in a 25m pool. That shows that the whole thing with the wall-kicking is a significantly different skill and adaptation from being relevent at the Olympics.
broadsword
Brigadier
- Shane Gould (1956–) first gained international attention in world swimming in April and December 1971 when she equalled the world record in the women’s 100 metres freestyle, then broke world records in the 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres and 1,500 metres freestyle events. Gould became the first person, male or female, to hold world freestyle records simultaneously in all distances from 100 metres to 1500 metres and in the 200 metres individual medley.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
Very impressive; I didn't know that. But I think sports weren't as cutting edge competitive back then. As Mark Spitz said, "We didn't have all this fancy stuff when I competed. We just showed up in our swim trunks, didn't even shave our mustaches and jumped right in." I'm paraphrasing but the point is, sport science has taken some huge strides in modern times so while Gould was certainly a phenom, it would be much much harder for someone like her to do today what she did back then because she'd be up against a myriad of opponents specially picked for muscle composition and specifically trained in methods known to be most effective for their physiologies.
broadsword
Brigadier
Someone on Quora explained it this way
Why are some Olympic swimmers able to win across the board on both short and long distance events while runners aren't able to do so?
The ability of some Olympic swimmers to excel in both short and long-distance events, while runners typically specialize, can be attributed to several factors:
1. Physiological Differences
- Energy Systems: Swimming events can utilize different energy systems more flexibly than running. For example, sprinting (short-distance swimming) primarily relies on anaerobic energy, while longer swims can rely more on aerobic metabolism. Runners, especially sprinters and long-distance athletes, often have more specialized adaptations for their specific event.
- Muscle Fiber Composition: Swimmers can have a mix of fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers, allowing them to perform well across different distances. Runners often have a more distinct division, with sprinters having more fast-twitch fibers and long-distance runners having more slow-twitch fibers.
- Versatility in Swimming: Swimming technique plays a significant role in performance. A swimmer can often adjust their technique slightly to optimize for different distances, whereas running form is less variable across distances.
- Starts and Turns: Swimming events include starts and turns, where technique can significantly impact performance. A swimmer can excel in both short and long distances by mastering these techniques.
- Cross-Training: Swimmers often engage in varied training methods that can enhance their performance across distances. For example, they might incorporate interval training that benefits both sprint and endurance performance.
- Recovery and Adaptation: The recovery dynamics in swimming are different. Swimmers can often recover more quickly than runners due to the low-impact nature of the sport, allowing them to train effectively for both short and long distances.
- Mental Approach: The mental demands of competing in swimming can differ. Swimmers may be more accustomed to varying their pacing and mental strategies between events, while runners tend to have a more intense focus on their specific distance.
- Event Schedule: In the Olympics, the swimming schedule allows for athletes to compete in multiple events without as much fatigue as in track events, where the distances can be more taxing on the body.
Overall, the combination of physiological, technical, and training factors contributes to why some swimmers can perform well across distances, whereas runners typically excel in specific events.