Olympic Technology

Published on August 18, 2008 By stevendedalus In Blogging

Buster Crabbe and Johnny Weismuller must be swimming in their graves what with the current hoopla of Olympic pool heroes. These giants of Olympic history had to endure the hair on their bodies and pool splash—opposed to today’s technology—that mirrored oceanic waves, nor were high tech sharkskin suits available in the '20s, ’30s. Probably unavailable too were targeted nutritional supplements, parental goading in early childhood, and government athletic programs. Still, all things technological lead to ostensible improvements such as the separation of Gold and Bronze but hundredths of a second.

Nevertheless, it goes without saying Phelps is amazing.

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Comments

Dr Guy

on Aug 18, 2008

Still, all things technological lead to ostensible improvements such as the separation of Gold and Bronze but hundredths of a second.

I read that in 04, he only won the butterfly by .04 seconds. He must have very long arms!

And all too true as well. Johnny and Buster probably jumped in with hairy armpits and ye old bermuda swimming trunks. One wonders what next to improve performance. Taken to its logical conclusion, there is a limit. 8' swimmers with "sharkskin" trunks can only do so much before they hit that wall.

But regardless of the world records set, all the swimmers in the pool this past week were basically on an even keel with their respective technology. So while records may not continue to fall, the feat of one man capturing 8 medals in one Olympiad is still one to admire and respect, as you stated.

stevendedalus

on Aug 18, 2008

He must have very long arms!

Actually he does!
\

Johnny and Buster probably jumped in with hairy armpits and ye old bermuda swimming trunks.

I love this!

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