There are a multitude of factors for swimmers to consider when they are racing. Whether it's getting a good dive into the pool, maximizing the available oxygen or perfecting a turn, it's a sport that is a matter of milliseconds.
Turns out, the depth of the pool may also be a variable when it comes to swim times, and those swimming at the 2024 Olympics may be dealing with just that.
For those who have taken in the first few days of swimming at Paris' La Defense Arena, there seems to be a distinct difference in the pace this year. Swimmers participating at the Olympics have been tossing around the term "slow" to describe the pool's conditions.
It's not to say that the Olympians are putting up slow times — it's that the water feels a tad different for the athletes. So it does beg the question — are the pools in Paris slow for the 2024 Olympics?
Here is what the data says behind it.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
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Is the Olympics pool slow?
Those watching Olympians on the screen likely cannot tell a difference. These elite athletes are still racing through the water at a rapid speed, putting on a show for those in Paris and those watching all around the globe.
All fans are still being treated to stellar showings, however, world records are not being broken this year at the Olympics.
Like any other sport, those individuals in swimming are getting better year after year. They're getting stronger, they're getting faster, they're getting more athletic. Records are meant to be broken, especially when it comes to Olympic swimming.
That has not happened this year in Paris. There has been a drastic decrease in the number of record-breaking times, with no world records and just seven Olympic marks. For reference, the last three Summer Olympics all finished with at least 20 new swim records in place.
THE PROOF IS IN THE… POOL
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) July 30, 2024
More on the pool depth playing a factor in slower swimming at these Olympics.
We’ve created a graphic showing the records at the previous three Games compared to Paris. No world records broken here so far. pic.twitter.com/QNKITW6eaH
So what's the difference at La Defense Arena? The depth.
Paris' swimming pools are more shallow than the typical waters these athletes have swam in. The normal swim depth is 2.8 meters for a pool, but the ones at the Olympics are measured at 2.2 meters.
Five-time Olympic medalist Missy Franklin explained the effects the depth of the water has on swimmers. As Franklin explained, if the pool is more shallow, the swimmers will refer to it as "slow."
"When the water has less room to settle, it's more choppy and it's more difficult to swim through," Franklin said in an Instagram video. "That extra depth gives the water more time to settle, making it easier to swim through."
Franklin pointed out that while strange, it is still a fair playing field. There are not certain swimmers who are in a deeper lane than the one next to them. However, it's something to watch for when it comes to times — and that could be the reason for the lack of record-marking finishes.
How deep is the Olympics pool?
- Depth in meters: 2-3
- Depth in feet: 6.5-9.8
The minimum depth for an Olympic swimming pool must be 2 meters (6.5 feet), according to FINA, which governs international swimming events.
The pool at the Paris La Defense Arena is 2.15 meters (about 7 feet, 1/2 inch) deep. That is the site for the swimming events at the 2024 Olympics.
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Olympics pool length and width in feet
- Length: 164 feet
- Width: 82.02-85.3 feet
An Olympic pool is 164 feet long and 82 feet wide — about half the size of an NFL football field.
