All of the buzz since the pool swimming wrapped up in London has been about the possibility of the IOC swapping out the women’s 800 freestyle for a 1500 freestyle to bring them more in-line with the men’s event schedule. While most have been focusing on that event change, however, another conversation has been happening as well according to sources.
The IOC has been discussing adding the 50 butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke to the event lineup for the 2016 Rio Olympics. This would really expand the market for sprinters’ entrances to the Games, especially in places like Europe where athletes are just as likely to specialize in the 50 free and the 50 fly, for example, as they are the 50 free and the 100 free. Those with knowledge of the conversations have said that there is a “70% chance” that we will see 50’s in Rio.
This is something that has been discussed for a long time, but has often been rejected on grounds of “medal inflation,” with swimming being told that if they want to add more events, they need to find some to drop elsewhere.
But with revenue rolling in from the swimming coverage, one of the biggest Olympic cash cows, the IOC is apparently changing its stance. Initially, the Americans would probably struggle in these 50 meter races. It would take some time for the culture to shift from the present day, where most top American athletes eschew them in favor of 100’s and 200’s, even at the World Championships. But for countries like Brazil, it would be a huge boon: Cesar Cielo has already hinted that he’s dropping the 100 free going into the World Championships, and will instead focus on the 50 free and 50 fly exclusively.
This would serve to balance out the swimming power somewhat. The two winningest nations in London, China and the United States, are both weakest overall in the sprints (though the American men certainly did perform well in the 50 and 100 freestyles).
Be on the lookout for more development in both the story of the 50’s and the 1500.
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The world championship program should be used in the Olympics. If it seems like there are too many events, remove some of the distance events. There are too many aerobic events and not that many anaerobic events. I say we bring on the true sprinters!
I love the 50 back and breast. I cried when I turned 13 because I was getting so good at them. I wish that they make it so that people over than 12 can swim it.
50s are so much fun!!! That would be so awesome to see them in the Olympics 🙂
I think the schedule is almost perfect the way it is. There are 2 basic sprint events, one pure sprint (the 50) and a longer sprint requiring a little endurance. There are two middle distance events, one with a sprint emphasis and one that is truly middle distance. there is a pure distance event (the 1500) and a distance event with some speed element (400). each stroke has one sprint event and one middle distance event. there is the distance IM and the medium event.
do we need to change the balance of this? would super sprint-sprint-middle distance events for every stroke be better than a version of each stroke for the sprinter and the middle distance person? swimming… Read more »
50s should be added and that will give more show to the olympic swimming. 50metres needs very hard work and concetration ass well, so nobody should say that 50s are easy! For example thats compare it to the athletics 100m sprint. It only lasts for 9 seconds and the majority of people all around the world watch and love this race, because it’s more spectacular than 5km or 10km. 50m (free, fly, breast, back) is almost the same, you go all out fast splash and dash and it’s spectacular.
Let’s add more relays to boot. How about 4×50 free and medley relays, 4×200 medley relays; and while we’re at it, lets add 400 fly, breast, back and 4×400 free and medley relays – but limit each nation to a max squad of 26 – that will ensure nations other than the US (e.g. Europe) get a fair share of medals. And maybe with more 50,s, the Missle and the Rocket will do better.
to anotherswimfan:
i agree south africa will made a great 4x50medley relay, but your comparison about 8 medals in track will never happen.The training in track and field are much more dangerous for a athlete body than swimming.Its unheard about a TOP runner who never got(even lightly) injuried.Of course, you never trained for 400 meters dash, to think its only training a bit more(for a guy coming from 100 meters).Bolt raced some very good 400 meters at young age, but there is no trade being a 100 meter specialist.Adding long jump?It s easier than to do 100-200-400 triple.The time to mastering the technique is not big, but mastering correctly is the problem(he can fly over 9 meters and be… Read more »
I understand, although sprinters have proven to be excellent long jumpers (Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis) it’s a very risky combination I admit. I have no doubt Bolt or any living person would be able to compete (let alone win) 8 track and field events. But the general point I’m trying to make is that present, Bolt’s longest events take him less than 20 sec to complete. He’s a sprinter. That’s it… No blame in it, no shame in it. That’s who he is and I admire his sprinting performances. But if anyone’s making the Bolt-Phelps equation it’s clear Phelps is the greater. He’s just extreme allround and dominated swimming in nearly every way possible. That’s the point I’m trying to… Read more »
I know I am definitely in the minority on this subject, but I definitely do NOT want 50s in the Olympics. Add the 50s and the IOC will insist that other races be removed to make room. Where do you start? Which events get removed in favor of the 50 backstroke? The IOC already removed the 200 I.M. for men and women at the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Games because they said the program was too large. Besides the 200 I.M., the 400 Freestyle relay for men was removed from 76 and 80 as well. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. This is going to open up a whole can of worms and the swimming community may regret this.… Read more »
I agree. People outside the sport already think there are too many swimming events. The current schedule is fine. Replace the women’s 800 with the 1500 and that’s it.
I think the present program is just fine. Eight days of swimming is enough! It’s amazing that athletes can be ‘on’ for that many days.