News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Is a 'slow' swimming pool impeding world records?. Parent comment

Re:Is a 'slow' swimming pool impeding world records? by AtlasBarfed on Tuesday July 30, 2024 @05:20PM (#41114248)
Why not give them a choice of Lane?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Is a 'slow' swimming pool impeding world records? by etempleton on Tuesday July 30, 2024 @10:03PM (#41115858)
Everyone would choose the middle lanes anyway.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Is a 'slow' swimming pool impeding world records? by lagniappe on Wednesday July 31, 2024 @01:54PM (#41121484)
Draw slips from a hat
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Is a 'slow' swimming pool impeding world records? by AtlasBarfed on Thursday August 01, 2024 @03:32PM (#41132698)
Tactically this may not be valid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQNY5htc9_k

When the US 4x100m swim relay beat France about three olympics ago (the one where Phelps won all those medals), France was comprehensively faster man-for-man aside from Phelps in that relay.

The US won because Jason Lezak, the anchor, swam in the wake of the final French swimmer (a draft basically) and was able to save energy and pass him.

If the US and French had been separated by a lane, the US would have lost.

If you are slightly faster (and especially if you go out faster) than your #2 rival, you want to have a lap between you to deny them the draft.

[ Parent | on HN ]