Jan 29, 2005 12:27 PM
3517 Views
(Updated Jan 31, 2005 10:23 AM)
This is to bring out a big flaw in the swimming competition in Olympics and any other major swimming competition worth its name.
There are 8 lanes in swimming event in Olympics (or any other major competition). It is ALWAYS observed that the first and second positions are occupied by swimmers in lane 4 and 5, whereas the last position is towards the side (lane 1/2 or 7/8).
This is no random observation. There is a scientific basis to it. As swimming starts, the water pressure builds up more on the sides than the central. Therefore, the competitors on the far lanes have to negotiate more water pressure than their counterparts at the middle lanes. Consequently, the ones towards the centre are at an advantage. This explains why almost ALWAYS in Oympics, some time after a race is started, the swimmers form an arrow-shape. And looking at data for the last 50 years or so in Olympics, always the Gold has been either from lane 4 or from lane 5.
To prevent this, there can be a transparent plastic sheet between all the lanes so that pressure from one lane do not affect the other.
Note: 1. Olympics is mentioned because in Olympics, all competitors are approximately equal in skill and speed. Of course, individual brilliance do count, but in an open contest, none should be in a disadvantage becuase of reasons not related to skill/stamina/speed.
(For example, if you compete in lane 4 against Mats Biondi in lane 8, even then Biondi will win because the difference is just too huge. For minor differences in skill level, as in Olympics, it matters a lot.)
