User Comments

1. 

   8/29/08

   crkian

   technology and evolution

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2. 

   8/29/08

   lvs

   evolution doesnt happen in a hundred years...it takes many thousands of years for evolution to make any difference

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   1. 

      8/29/08

      blogonsmog

      I disagree - changes can be seen over a hundred years!
      
      I don't mean like a new species or anything. But environment and food leads to changes in average size / weight etc. U.S.A. is a case in point where average size has increased.
3. 

   8/29/08

   crkian

   well something happens with bodys each time a new generation is born.

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4. 

   8/29/08

   weemundo

   Records are made to be broken ..duh ?

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5. 

   8/29/08

   chrisso

   The athletes have better conditions of life, they can train more than they did(their sponsors pay them so they don't have to do anything but train).
   Technology helps as well: better shoes, better knowledge of the body, nutrition...maybe even better tracks for running...doping probably helps, in some cases, better world records...but I am not the one to spread rumors!!!

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6. 

   8/29/08

   legbamel

   The fact that athletes can now spend all day, every day training instead of living a normal life between competitions makes a big difference. Also, improvements in equipment, like shoes and swimming "suits", track surfaces, and the like, mean that people can perform better by doing the same thing they did the year before.

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7. 

   8/29/08

   blogonsmog

   Something not mentioned yet is changes / refinement of rules, sporting facilities, and schedules. For example, it is likely that Michael Phelps would not have been able to compete in 8 events much less win 8 gold medals a hundred years ago just because of the way the events were scheduled back then. They were not necessarily accommodating for athletes with multiple talents.

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8. 

   8/29/08

   urikalish

   And don't forget performance-enhancing drugs...

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9. 

   8/29/08

   CrotchetyOldMan

   Also, the psychology of sports changes things things. When Roger Bannister did what was thought to be the impossible and broke the 4 minute barrier, in about a month someone eclipsed his time, and within a year, I believe 9 different runners broke 4 minutes. All that changed was the idea.

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10. 

    8/29/08

    calais50

    govts spend more on rec programs and sports than they did a long time ago. To a large extent, the # of medals a country wins is dependent upon how much money the govt has for such programs. Also, perhaps better nutrition. In the case of swimming, the new full body swimsuit really helps. oh, yeah, and steroids.

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    1. 

       8/29/08

       RTBjr73

       Don't forget the Wheaties!!!
    2. 

       8/29/08

       calais50

       the steroids are IN the wheaties. that's why athletes love wheaties so much.
    3. 

       9/01/08

       lvs

       I think we should assume that athletes are generally clean. The anti doping squad is quite good at what they do.
11. 

    6/19/09

    lvs

    Bolt ran the fastest 100 m of the year this week....he's setting himself up for something big i think

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