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After 8 Phelps Golds, 8 Questions on Beijing Super Pool
popularmechanics.com — With 20 world-best marks falling in Bejing, what's the scientific secret weapon? And while Olympians crushed 28 records in 1972, what makes Phelps and co. so much better than past swimmers? We crunch the numbers with the experts to answer these and other high-tech questions —and debunk some of the myths that have cropped up around them.
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- cheap2, on 08/19/2008, -16/+9Interesting article, thanks
- georgemason01, on 08/19/2008, -0/+13You could have at least returned the favor with an interesting comment.
- Leit89, on 08/19/2008, -1/+1Dugg simply for giving definite answers.
When the question is asking what Michael Phelp's secret is it doesn't give some lame ass response like "I try my hardest". I thought it was also interesting to hear about the dolphin kick and whatnot. - Mononuclear, on 08/19/2008, -0/+3It was an interesting article but it doesn't talk about the changes in rules. Swimming has changed quite a bit since Spitz's time in the pool. Dolphin kick wasn't allowed off the turn and start in freestyle. The single dolphin kick on breaststroke was also not allowed. In Breast stroke you couldn't let your head go under water. In backstroke you couldn't roll over onto your stomach for one stroke and turn, you either had to do a backflip or touch the wall and then go. The touch and go used to be the only allowed turn from backstroke to breastroke in IM but now you can do an underwater sideways flip as long as you stay on your back. These are only a few of the changes.
It is a combination of new technology and training methods as well as different rules that has allowed the new records. Comparing Spitz's time then and now just isn't fair because not only has technology changed but the rules of the game have also changed.- jeremec, on 08/19/2008, -0/+3Exactly... It's apples and oranges. Much like the hitting records in MLB. Most of the old records were set in fewer games. A "single season record" is the same no matter how you slice it, but to compare it directly to records from another time with different circumstances just isn't right.
That being said, Phelps is part dolphin, part machine. He was born to swim.
Reading the douchbag article posted earlier was aggravating. Many athletes are douchebags to a much greater degree. Kobe Bryant is 15x the douchebag Phelps could ever be.
Articles like this are far more interesting.
- jeremec, on 08/19/2008, -0/+3Exactly... It's apples and oranges. Much like the hitting records in MLB. Most of the old records were set in fewer games. A "single season record" is the same no matter how you slice it, but to compare it directly to records from another time with different circumstances just isn't right.
- bysubmitted, on 08/19/2008, -0/+45One question on the Super Pool, Seven others.
- buckygrad, on 08/19/2008, -4/+1I read rumors that the pool is 4 cm too short. I was hoping they would have addressed that. Otherwise, great article despite the misleading title.
- BCCStu, on 08/19/2008, -12/+2Deeper Water. Simple as that.
- iamchewy, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4Please read the article. Advanced techniques account for most of the improvements.
- pirateandy, on 08/19/2008, -4/+14he's not human, he's a dophin
- Spade914, on 08/19/2008, -1/+75Thats a common misconception. A lot of people think he is part dolphin, but in reality dolphins are part michael phelps
- welestgw, on 08/19/2008, -1/+13When the dolphins go to sleep, they check their closets for Michael Phelps.
- pintomp3, on 08/19/2008, -1/+2that's why sharks don't sleep at all.
- Nasterisk, on 08/19/2008, -2/+1Just his ankles are part dolphin, he hasn't had the rest of the surgery yet.
- HiddenCanuck, on 08/19/2008, -4/+1Mutant! Burrrrn!!!
- Spade914, on 08/19/2008, -1/+75Thats a common misconception. A lot of people think he is part dolphin, but in reality dolphins are part michael phelps
- GeorgeCarlin, on 08/19/2008, -5/+3Here is a visual that makes me question it even more http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_galler ...
- jemka, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2Not that there's anything wrong with that.
- juliandunbar11, on 08/19/2008, -1/+1..to quote Al Gore, "Mmm. Mmmm. MMMMMM. That's a lot of gold."
- ifnotme, on 08/19/2008, -9/+2I am in awe of Phelps, and I don't want to take anything away from him and his amazing accomplishments, but understanding how the pool affects the outcome (and improves the times) is not something I had considered before.
- whaleyboy69, on 08/19/2008, -0/+17You forget that everyone else was in the same pool. Any advantage gained from the "super pool" would be shared. The accomplishment is relative.
- CedEx, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1I'm pretty sure it also matters where in the lanes you are in. The middle ones having the best flow versus the outer lanes.
- dullnation, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1And they say our teeth are bad...
- whaleyboy69, on 08/19/2008, -0/+17You forget that everyone else was in the same pool. Any advantage gained from the "super pool" would be shared. The accomplishment is relative.
- badwithcomputer, on 08/19/2008, -6/+9that dude doesn't have to take ***** from anybody right now. awesome.
- rpfinley, on 08/19/2008, -1/+29One of the best articles I've read on digg, actually factual
- RandomGorilla, on 08/19/2008, -4/+61I hear Phelps is returning to his old job as ruler of Atlantis.
- cesclaveria, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2Namor has nothing on this guy... ok, may be a couple of little wings
- galv0, on 08/19/2008, -10/+1How many freaking Phelps articles will I see on Digg in one day?
- Calinthalus, on 08/19/2008, -0/+7About 1/4th the number of McCain bashing articles.
- dullnation, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1In other words, a ***** lot.
- Plapper, on 08/19/2008, -1/+4This article is actually pretty interesting if you had read it. Obviously you didn't.
- SkippyDoorknob, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1All of them
- Calinthalus, on 08/19/2008, -0/+7About 1/4th the number of McCain bashing articles.
- balgreat, on 08/19/2008, -11/+4sed s/Obama/Phelps/g digg_frontpage.html
- cbartlett, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1Were there a lot of articles last week about Obama's 8 golds?
- BossKey, on 08/19/2008, -1/+30We have two comments above saying the pool alters the outcome. But wait. I can see how a fast pool makes records easier. But ALL the competitors swim in the same pool, so how can a pool make one competitor in the same race faster than the others? The pool would just cancel itself out across the field, right?
- TKardinal, on 08/19/2008, -2/+2Right, BossKey.
- ColonelJessup, on 08/19/2008, -0/+3My mom swam in college, she says that the swimmers in the middle lanes get an advantage over the other swimmers.
She says it is because of the waves that the swimmers in the middle lanes create, the other swimmers have to fight against them or something like that.- nyx210, on 08/19/2008, -0/+3But the other swimmers also create waves when they swim...
- jorisb, on 08/19/2008, -1/+7Does anyone read the article anymore? Or do you just go straight to the comments to argue your theories?
It's not the pool, the pool and the suit account to maybe a second each in the 200m. The rest is all technique.
There, now you don't have to read the article anymore. - TKardinal, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1This is the nature of competition. Those who do well in preliminary rounds get a better "sede" in the later rounds. If there is no advantage, they slack off and don't do their best (or even worse than their slacking).
Same reason the #1 sede plays the #8 sede. - BossKey, on 08/20/2008, -0/+3Yeah, I get it about the middle lanes...but as far as I can tell, this pool still comes equipped with middle lanes. Reports indicate that building a 10-lane pool without middle lanes is considered a "design challenge."
- MxM111, on 08/19/2008, -2/+2Wrong. Somehow pool cheats specially for Phelps.
- yfph, on 08/20/2008, -0/+3In several of the heats I saw, a few swimmers broke the record along with Phelps. He just happened to touch the wall before them.
- JoshuaLowe, on 08/19/2008, -8/+2So now it's the pool's fault? Lame. Phelps got 6 golds in Athens, too. Or is that also China's fault? Face it: He's the best, he won fair and square.
- TKardinal, on 08/19/2008, -0/+5Read the article, friend. It actually does not blame the pool.
Dugg down for ignorance.
- TKardinal, on 08/19/2008, -0/+5Read the article, friend. It actually does not blame the pool.
- dan222555, on 08/19/2008, -1/+19Far more interesting than pictures of Michael Phelps in crooked baseball hats.
- imacbook, on 08/19/2008, -7/+1He was on Fox and Friends this morning.
- FreddieD, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2Burying you because you watch Fox and Friends
- SaladTongs, on 08/19/2008, -9/+3Michael Phelps doesn't get wet, water gets Michael Phelps.
- nyx210, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1You ***** up!
- wunksta, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1lol guess not a lot of people listen to the giants
- robEstyles, on 08/19/2008, -9/+4But can he run Crysis?
- MxM111, on 08/19/2008, -0/+11No, he can swim it.
- thegrantman, on 08/19/2008, -5/+2No,but he can swim it.
- jamwil87, on 08/20/2008, -0/+2***** you.
- Mr.Gone, on 08/19/2008, -9/+4Roids?
- subliminalurge, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2I was wondering how long it would be until the Ho-Ho eating couch potatoes showed up insisting that it's impossible to be athletically talented without steroids.
No, it's not roids.- Mr.Gone, on 08/19/2008, -3/+1Almost as impossible as talking with Phelps dick in your mouth? That kind of impossible?
- subliminalurge, on 08/20/2008, -0/+1Shut the ***** up, engage in some physical activity, and maybe you'll realize that it is not only possible, but actually REALLY ***** EASY, to be in good physical shape without steroids.
In fact, muscular, trim, and healthy is the NATURAL STATE of the human body.
Here's a hint: You're not "big boned". You're a FAT, LAZY SLOB. That's not "the way you were born", that's "the way you choose to live". - Mr.Gone, on 08/20/2008, -0/+1lol, look at the homophobe sputter. So sad. Not being fat myself i understand how one can get in shape without steroids. Now the next big question is, "How much more pissed off can I make sublimisuckingphelpspenisnalurge?"
- subliminalurge, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2I was wondering how long it would be until the Ho-Ho eating couch potatoes showed up insisting that it's impossible to be athletically talented without steroids.
- Chickenlip, on 08/19/2008, -1/+10SO basically it all comes down to the big feet.
- minoss, on 08/19/2008, -1/+2When you have so many people competing and training at such a high level, the winner often comes down to genetic advantage.
- pintomp3, on 08/19/2008, -1/+7big floppy feet.
- blueskydiver76, on 08/19/2008, -0/+5You know what they say about big feet....big shoes.
- Braxo, on 08/19/2008, -3/+1Evolution? Humans evolve and will keep on getting better times.
But at this point, Phelps is so good, what is the point of even becoming a swimmer? He'll always beat you.- TKardinal, on 08/19/2008, -0/+5Evolution doesn't work that fast. However, if you read the article, you see that our understanding of how to swim faster does develop. The use of the butterfly/dolphin kick for anything but swimming butterfly was unknown in Spitz' time. Ian Thorpe starts using it for 5 meters in the 90's, and Phelps uses it for 13 meters.
- ruthgers, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1And 15 meters is the max...unless they've changed the rules since I swam.
- TKardinal, on 08/19/2008, -0/+5Evolution doesn't work that fast. However, if you read the article, you see that our understanding of how to swim faster does develop. The use of the butterfly/dolphin kick for anything but swimming butterfly was unknown in Spitz' time. Ian Thorpe starts using it for 5 meters in the 90's, and Phelps uses it for 13 meters.
- grey580, on 08/19/2008, -8/+1http://www.bignewsaboutsports.com
- grey580, on 08/19/2008, -7/+1http://www.bignewsaboutsports.com
- Yookji, on 08/19/2008, -1/+19"Of all the swimmers we've tested, Michael's parameters are closest to that of a dolphin."
- OasisR123, on 08/19/2008, -1/+1...the tuna fisher said.
- tallguyg, on 08/19/2008, -1/+7excellent article. im glad someone finally espoused the importance of technique in swimming. 90% of what makes someone faster is their technique. maybe thats exaggerating a bit but you know what i mean.
- Chuck95, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2The key sentence in that whole article is this:
"Phelps and co. swim faster than legends like Spitz and Schollander because they're swimming smarter."
There are so many things that have changed even in just the last 15 years or so. Heck even in 4 years since Athens. The coach I swim with now is having us do so many different techniques than we did when I was in highschool. They don't just kill you with yardage and breathing control like we learned. Its way more focused on technique and fine tuning your stroke, turns, starts and finishes.
Look at all the US trained swimmers. They were faster on turns and longer off the wall. One exception was Christy Coventry. She was so frustrating because her finishes were so terrible. She lifted her head and came up at the end on almost every race except... surprise... the one she finally won gold on. She finally got her head down and finished well.
I personally believe that most of these reasons are why so many records are going. This is the first huge meet where we see the final product of years learning under these new techniques.
Another thing is all this talk on the pool. There are a LOT of pools built to these specs. The University of Texas and Texas A&M pools are both built like this. Nine to 10 ft deep with a V shaped bottom and open lanes or wide spaces on the ends. I don't see the pool as some huge factor personally.
- Chuck95, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2The key sentence in that whole article is this:
- pradvan, on 08/19/2008, -4/+4"Of all the swimmers we've tasted, Michael's parameters are closest to that of a dolphin."
- willi, on 08/19/2008, -0/+1He's a mutant!
- Yookji, on 08/20/2008, -0/+1In other news, a roll of Phelps sushi sells for over $9,000 in Japan.
- 0biKwiet, on 08/19/2008, -1/+2It looks more like he doesn't care at all, and a bunch of people keep pushing him into a bunch of stupid situations for their own ends. Douchebags are people who dress stupidly and act stupidly because they have something to prove. Phelps has less to prove than anyone else in the world. He is undisputedly the best as his sport. I don't think anyone else can say that about anything they do.
- stretta, on 08/19/2008, -1/+4I don't know about the pool, but Spitz's 70's porn-star 'stash must be at least a half second penalty in terms of drag.
- finchiTFB, on 08/19/2008, -2/+1So many athletes posted so many great times at the Olympics because all the swimmers peak specifically for the Olympics which only comes every 4 years, so with the combination of new swim suits, a fast pool, and Phelps and the other swimmers being in peak shape, many world records were set.
- opensourcer, on 08/19/2008, -0/+3It is logical to think records would be broken through the advancement of technology. I am glad this revealed some of the advancement we have in swimming. However, we shouldn't compare Phelps and Spitz. They are their best in their relative time. Just leave it at that.
- KIERANMULLEN, on 08/19/2008, -5/+5Because unlike the Chinese he does it for FUN (serious fun) and was not selected from birth to do one thing and one thing only.
- tinybubs, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4Another difference between Spitz and Phelps is their amateur status. Spitz was studying to be a dentist when he was competing, he couldn't accept endorsements so he had limited resources for training. Phelps on the other hand is a professional swimmer, his endorsement deals allow him to train year round full time.
- alwilson, on 08/20/2008, -1/+1Yep, Spitz wasn't eating, sleeping and swimming like Phelps was. He was drilling, yanking, and making people go ahhhh.
- BigW, on 08/20/2008, -0/+3This is very true. Had the same amateur rules applied to Phelps, he would have had to give up amateur status after the Athens games in order to get the endorsement deals he received then. Under the same rules for amateur status Spitz swam under, we probably would never have seen Phelps swim in the 2008 games...
- Zatko, on 08/20/2008, -0/+3Spitz did it with a mustache
- TracyMapes, on 08/20/2008, -1/+0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfSP7PSCNak
Video Manipulation Steals Cavic Win.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2781245652_3ff ... - PVanderVossen, on 08/20/2008, -0/+0Did he cheat? You Decide :
http://www.cheatorbeat.com/michael-phelps/olympics ... - lastklim, on 08/21/2008, -0/+0Another possible reason: USA just invented some super dopes and IOC cannot detect them. With the highest bio/pharmaceutical technologies in hand, USA is capable of doing many things.....
- NatlAquarium, on 08/22/2008, -0/+0So if I understand the article correctly, Phelps is more similar to dolphins than other people because of his flexibility.
We actually just wrote a blog entry on the difference in speed between Phelps and dolphins: http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/42 ...
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