Anecdotal reports regarding the 2013 Fédération Internationale de Natation World Swimming Championships held in Barcelona suggested that swimming performances were biased, presumably because of a current. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the swimmers` performance data to determine the merit of these rumors. Methods: The mean time difference between odd and even 50-m lengths for each lane in the 1500-m freestyle was compared. For each 50-m event, a percent change in performance from the preliminaries to semifinals and semifinals to finals was calculated for all qualifying swimmers. Observations were grouped according to the swimmers` lane assignments. Results: For the 1500-m freestyle, lane assignment significantly affected the time difference between odd and even 50-m lengths (P < 0.001). The change in performance for the 50-m events was also affected by lane assignment (P < 0.001). When swimmers transitioned from lanes 1-4 for their first swim (preliminaries or semifinals) to lanes 5-8 for their second (semifinals or finals), their performance time improved by 1.11% (95% confidence interval, 0.82%-1.41%), which was significantly greater than any other lane change scenario. When swimmers were in lanes 5-8 for their first swim and lanes 1-4 for their second, their performance time was slower by 0.59% (95% confidence interval, 0.39%-0.80%), which was significantly worse than any other lane change combination. Conclusions: Swimmers were advantaged or disadvantaged depending on the direction and lane in which they swam. The existence of a current is the only cause that we can propose to explain these findings. Because one of Fédération Internationale de Natation`s primary stated objectives is to provide fairness in competition, new policies are needed to prevent similar biases from occurring in the future.
© Copyright 2015 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.