T&F vs. swimming

[Pego]

The WC in swimming has just concluded. As in all WC's and OG's many world records fell. They have become quite rare in T&F. My question is: "Has T&F evolved so far ahead of swimming in the past century or is there a different explanation?"

[Guest]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

Here's the difference: swimming is able to control all it's variables by holding the events indoors. In track, weather, wind, surface, etc all have an impact and must be "just right" to set records. In swimming, these are not factors in big meets.

[Guest]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

Also: no contact between swimmers and less-complicated tactics.

[Guest]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

fewer season-ending injuries
less variables in training
more high-tech training world-wide

in swimming, the form charts are adhered to with much more regularity. It's been a more gradual build (ignoring the EG wo-men) over the years. Track goes in fits and spurts.

[MJR]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

... and excellent tv coverage with commentators who don't sound stupid!!

[MJD]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

Does the fact that technique is such a big part of swimming make any difference?

[Guest]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

not to take anything away from some decent athletes, but does anyone else think it is silly that swimming has so many different types of strokes? i find it strange that the events are the same distance, but different races because different technique is involved. that is the same reason that i think race walking is kind of lame, not to mention very funny looking.
what are everyone's thoughts?
in my opinion different strokes in swimming are pointless and race walking should be eliminated from track and field unless we also have add a 400 meter skip and a 330 yard gallup and perhaps 100 meter bear crawl

[joel]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

The tradition of different strokes has been established, so I think it should be respected. From a non-runner's point of view, it might seem silly that we take 2 ways to jump over a pole, 2 ways to hop into a pit, 2 ways to run a 110m, 400m, 3000m.

[Guest]

Re: T&F vs. swimming

I agree that the coverage was good and the meet excellent, i bet the coverage for track and field next month will be much worse...