Olympic swimmers are smashing records, causing observers to wonder how
OLYMPIC SWIMMING
High-tech suits, new pool design and the inescapable doping question come to the forefront when so many marks are falling.
BEIJING -- Anyone tuning in to watch swimming for the first time in several years can't help but be a little suspicious this week.
It's one thing to watch Michael Phelps smash world records left and right, but should every world record in swimming be falling like this?
Through the first three days of the 2008 Olympics, there have been 10 world records broken in nine events. Phelps has broken two individual world records -- the 400-meter medley and the 200-meter freestyle -- and was a member of the United States team that lowered the world record in the 400-meter freestyle relay by nearly four seconds.
He has a chance to break two more world records today in the 200-meter butterfly and the 800-meter freestyle relay. Katie Hoff also has shot at a world record in the 800-meter freestyle relay, and possibly in the 200-meter freestyle.
But Phelps and Hoff aren't the only swimmers going historically fast. World records have fallen in the 100-meter breaststroke, 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle on the men's side, and the 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley on the women's side. The United States men broke the 400-meter freestyle relay world record twice in 24 hours.
There are 32 swimming events at the Olympics, and since the 2004 Games in Athens ended, world records have been lowered in 26 of them, with the biggest assault on the record book coming this year. Since the start of 2008, world records have been set in 20 different events. Janet Evans' record in the 800-meter freestyle has stood since 1989, but beyond that, no world record is older than 2001. It's a revelation that has a lot of casual fans scratching their heads.
Is it the new Speedo suits? The deeper pool? Does the sport have a drug problem that no one is talking about? All of the above?
People within the worldwide swimming community have different answers. But for the most part, athletes and coaches believe it's just the accelerated progression of the sport.
Swimmers are sticking around longer because sponsorship money has increased exponentially and as a result, an athlete is able to peak at a later age.
Mark Spitz was 22 years old when he retired after winning seven gold medals in 1972, and he had to essentially leave the sport because it was impossible make a living when amateur athletes couldn't accept endorsement deals and continue to compete in the Olympics. Jason Lezak, who swam the anchor leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay, which was the fastest relay split ever (46.06) is 33 years old. Dara Torres made her fifth Olympic team this year at age 41.
