Is it just me or is anyone else amazed that at this level of competition that many of the US women are wearing earrings? I have to believe that they cost Missy Franklin a podium spot last night: .01 seconds out.
Perhaps the hydrodynamics make them faster…?
Not buyin that.
My 14 year old non-swimmer son pointed that out.
He didn’t think it was very “aquadynamic”
The back of the earring is actually a tiny propeller. The large earring is actually the battery.
My 12-year old’s coach gets on them for wearing an ironman watch. It may not be much but if swimmers and triathletes shave for fractions of a second, I can’t understand the earrings. I have to believe that it added up to .01 seconds over 200 meters
They may be olympic swimmers but they are still girls. They like looking pretty.
In all seriousness, there is so much tubulance around the water level along the head right where the ears are that having some pearl earings on is not going to add any drag.
The fingernails on the other hand, can really matter. The sport has come a long way since Los Angeles the ladies were buying Lee Press-On nails from a drugstore and applying them right before races in order to get that last hundredth. These days, it’s all professional manicures with gel tips done in your team colors all the way.
They may be olympic swimmers but they are still girls. They like looking pretty.
In all seriousness, there is so much tubulance around the water level along the head right where the ears are that having some pearl earings on is not going to add any drag.
Not going to buy that either. Look at the video during the pull phase, the water is very clean on that side of his head. Let’s not forget the 40 yards underwater.
The fingernails on the other hand, can really matter. The sport has come a long way since Los Angeles the ladies were buying Lee Press-On nails from a drugstore and applying them right before races in order to get that last hundredth. These days, it’s all professional manicures with gel tips done in your team colors all the way.
NBC had a closeup with a male Chinese swimmer, and could see the incredible long fingernails he had. I assume that helps grab water on the catch, etc?
Long nails were supposed to help you get to the wall quicker because your fingertips were just a little bit longer than if you kept nails short.
Don’t want the watch because the forearm is part of the propelling surface. Especially important for kids as the pull patterns are not yet totally set in muscle memory. They are still learning the optimal stroke.
As far as earrings - it would be interesting to see if anyone has researched that.
Most wear the bullet swim caps now to eliminate the wrinkling of regular caps (to be hydrodynamic)
Logic says faster without the earings. But…
But we know from bike aerodynamics that what “looks” faster is not always faster.
Anyone here with an advanced degree in fluid dynamics?
the watch thing might be more a ‘learn to read the pace clock’ & ‘real swimmers don’t wear a watch’ than resistance.
Long nails were supposed to help you get to the wall quicker because your fingertips were just a little bit longer than if you kept nails short.
long fingernails would be like little paddles on your fingers
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Nah, kids coach is a stickler for optimal streamlining and thinks the watch is unnecessary drag.
the watch thing might be more a ‘learn to read the pace clock’ & ‘real swimmers don’t wear a watch’ than resistance.
Didn’t anyone check if they had anything else pierced? I mean with all those tight swimsuits you would think you see if there was another piercing…
You are a dirty dirty man…
I have been spending 2 much time on the hottie thread. Half the views are mine
The Jergens rep is trying to get ahold of you - they want to thank you for all the dedicated use of their products.
The fingernails on the other hand, can really matter. The sport has come a long way since Los Angeles the ladies were buying Lee Press-On nails from a drugstore and applying them right before races in order to get that last hundredth. These days, it’s all professional manicures with gel tips done in your team colors all the way.
I noticed all the nailpolish and just laughed - that and the earrings prove these are teenage girls!