Olympics 2008

[Not Afraid]

I've enjoyed Gymnastics and swimming as well this year. I'm not so excited for Track and Field to start. The pool has been a place for many shattered records. I hope there is not doping scandel in our future.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I've enjoyed Gymnastics and swimming as well this year. I'm not so excited for Track and Field to start. The pool has been a place for many shattered records. I hope there is not doping scandel in our future.

There may be but the chatter I'm seeing seems to credit technology and pool design. The pool has several new features designed to reduce water resistance and improve performance, even the lane dividers are designed to help the swimmers go faster.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Alex

There may be but the chatter I'm seeing seems to credit technology and pool design. The pool has several new features designed to reduce water resistance and improve performance, even the lane dividers are designed to help the swimmers go faster.

That's what I'm seeing too. The enhancements come with the design.

Now, if that's fair to previous records or not (along with the enhanced suits) is up for debate. Sure, the record was technically broken, but it's not a level playing field. If the previous record holders had these advantages, would their records still be able to be broken? Or would they merely be tied.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

The pool has been a place for many shattered records. I hope there is not doping scandel in our future.

Originally Posted by Alex

There may be but the chatter I'm seeing seems to credit technology and pool design. The pool has several new features designed to reduce water resistance and improve performance, even the lane dividers are designed to help the swimmers go faster.

There has been a lot of attention on the new swim suit from Speedo (Fastskin LZR Racer). It was supposedly designed with help from NASA.

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Besides the bodies, the best thing I like about the synchronized diving is the camera that follows the diver into the water. That's so cool.

I think it is as simple as gravity "driving" the camera. There is a guy off to the right of the podium (as you look at it from afar) that I keep seeing. I've seen him A) pulling up on a rope, and B) possible just "dropping" said rope as the divers make their leap. I think the camera is housed in the black-faced square tube.

Just my $0.02 on the subject.


ETA: Garrett Brown is the guy who invented the Dive-Cam as well as the Steadi-Cam and many other camera innovations. Story about him on Wired.