Swimming

SwimSwam Pulse: 42.7% Want To See Stroke 50s At The Olympics

April 27, 2024

SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.

Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which aspect of the Olympic swimming program they would change:

Question: Which would you rather see at the Olympics?

RESULTS

Stroke 50s – 42.7%
Up to 3 swimmers per country in an event – 35.3%
None – I like it as is – 13.4%
Mixed free relay – 8.5%

The discussion of whether or not 50s of backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly should be added to the Olympic program can be a sensitive topic for some, especially the traditionalists, but our latest poll showed there is still a big appetite for it.

When asked what they would add to Olympic swimming, 42.7% of readers picked stroke 50s over the other options, showing that a large segment of the sport’s fanbase want to see the events added to the biggest stage.

Although the Olympic schedule is already jam-packed, with swimming extended to nine days for the Paris Games, adding the stroke 50s would bring some more excitement and wouldn’t tack on too much extra time in each session (the ninth day having been added already could make extra events more palatable as well).

Stroke 50s are featured at the World Aquatics Championships, and nations that previously encouraged swimmers to solely zone in on the Olympic events have started to allow swimmers to put more of an emphasis on them.

In some ways, it’s similar to the addition of the men’s 800 free and the women’s 1500 free that we saw in Tokyo. That gave distance swimmers another medal opportunity, and this would do the same for the stroke specialists who in many cases only have their respective 100-meter event to race individually.

There is the rare swimmer, someone like American Michael Andrew, who would benefit greatly and be rewarded for his unique skillset that sees him among the world’s best in multiple stroke 50s.

The addition of stroke 50s didn’t top this poll by a landslide, however, as the proposition of allowing a third swimmer in each race per country garnered more than 35% of votes.

We see it in track and field, where nations can qualify three athletes in one event, and it would allow Olympic medals to be contested by a greater representation of who the world’s best in each race truly are.

As it currently stands, a female swimmer from Australia (maybe more than one) who could win the 100 free on any given day at the Olympics won’t qualify to have a chance at the Olympic Trials. The same could be said—at least for a medal—for a woman in the 100 back in the United States.

On the other hand, the cut-throat nature of qualification at the Olympic Trials makes it the most exciting meet in the world.

Readers were given the option to select that they don’t want to see any changes, they like things the way they are, and that received 13.4% of votes.

The mixed free relay didn’t get much love, picking up 8.5% of votes.

The mixed medley was added to the program in Tokyo and has been well-received over the years at the World Championships with fans on the edge of their seats due to various lead changes, not to mention the conversation questioning lineup decisions.

The mixed free relay doesn’t seem to get the same reaction since every country puts two men first, so no wild mid-race swings, and the race tends to be less interesting in general.

At times, the mixed free relay felt like a chore for swimmers who may have raced once or twice earlier in the session to have to race again at the end of the night in previous World Championships. With so much importance placed on performing at the Games, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see countries opt not to use their best athletes if they have a race the following day, which would defeat the purpose of adding it to the schedule.

Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: Who will be the first under the magical 400 free barrier?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE

A3 Performance is an independently-owned, performance swimwear company built on a passion for swimming, athletes, and athletic performance. We encourage swimmers to swim better and faster at all ages and levels, from beginners to Olympians. Driven by a genuine leader and devoted staff that are passionate about swimming and service, A3 Performance strives to inspire and enrich the sport of swimming with innovative and impactful products that motivate swimmers to be their very best – an A3 Performer.

The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.

SwimSwam: SwimSwam Pulse: 42.7% Want To See Stroke 50s At The Olympics