FINA Rules

Phil01

Why doesn't FINA recognize world record splits in relay events?
I feel so bad for Jason Lezak the man swam 100 meters in 46:06 and it goes unrecognized. To swim a world record time and not get it recorded is crazy.
In my mind he is the fastest 100 meter freestyle swimmer in the world.

Clseeper

This is due to the starts mainly. In any race, especially sprints, the start is a very important part of the race.

In a normal race there is a natural reaction time for every swimmer, the time between the gun going and the swimmer starting their dive. These can vary from 0.4 to 0.8 of a sec. In a relay, there isn’t this delay as you can see the swimmer in the water coming in and can judge when to start your dive.

Also in relays with very good takeovers, swimmers will actually start to jump before the swimmer in the water has left the block. This is because the rule basically states that the person’s feet must still be on the block when the swimmer hits the wall. So a lot of swimmers will build up speed and momentum by swing starts/takeovers and I’ve even seen people running [shuffling] the length of the block.

Running
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=vJtmu6RcyPs

Couldn’t find a good clip of the other take over. Essentially the same as the running one, without the running. You can just see her swinging her arms back and around to build up momentum aswell.

Rented Mule

I believe that they will recognise the opening split for World Records since that are starting from a 'standing start'.

sock puppet

Well if he had managed to swim that fast he still could have gone under 47 seconds off a standing start. The thing is he hasn't managed it. In my mind Alain Bernard is the best 100m sprinter in the world. He may be the 3rd fastest behind Lezak and Sullivan if you were looking at fastest swims but Bernard was consistent at the olympics whereas Sullivan and Lezak both swam a good bit off their best in the 100m final. He also medaled in the 50 free which neither Sullivan or Lezak did though Lezak didn't swim it.

Still that doesn't take away from the fact that Lezaks swim was the fastest ever but unless he can replicate it over the next few years (or maybe he's retiring?) he won't be in the records as an individual. Though I doubt he's too bothered. Without his amazing swim the relay gold and world record would have gone to France.

DolphinMasters

I have to agree with Sock Puppet on this, Lezak was nowhere near contention in the Individuals as he has such strong opposition from the likes of Bernard and Sullivan. However, you probably know yourself from your own swimming that you are likely to pull out times on a relay that you never dreamed possible, some of it comes from not wanting to 'let the team down'. The Americans were really up against it, Bernard had come out and stated that France were going to "Smash" the Americans in the 4x100 Relay. And for a while it looked like they might. Lezak probably knew it was all or nothing going into that swim. You have to admit, it was a pretty amazing performance and gutsy to boot. And it got Mr. Phelps another Gold in the bag!

Maybe next relay they will put him first and let him take them out on a 46!

Rented Mule

DolphinMasters wrote: »

I have to agree with Sock Puppet on this, Lezak was nowhere near contention in the Individuals as he has such strong opposition from the likes of Bernard and Sullivan. However, you probably know yourself from your own swimming that you are likely to pull out times on a relay that you never dreamed possible, some of it comes from not wanting to 'let the team down'. The Americans were really up against it, Bernard had come out and stated that France were going to "Smash" the Americans in the 4x100 Relay. And for a while it looked like they might. Lezak probably knew it was all or nothing going into that swim. You have to admit, it was a pretty amazing performance and gutsy to boot. And it got Mr. Phelps another Gold in the bag!

Maybe next relay they will put him first and let him take them out on a 46!

One of the things that noone is mentioning is that Lezak was able to draft off of the French swimmer for most of the race which also helped his time.

Again, the reason that it is not reognised as a world record is because it was not from a standing start.

DolphinMasters

True I suppose. Still not to take too much away from the man, he had a good race and it was a very fast time, whatever way he achieved it!:)