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, or you can find the poll embedded at the bottom of this post.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers to pick the most fun event to watch:
RESULTS
Question: Which event is most fun to watch?
- 200 free – 29.3%
- 400 IM – 25.7%
- 50 free – 19.5%
- 100 fly – 14.9%
- 100 breast – 6.0%
- 100 back – 4.8
More than a quarter of voters selected the 200 free as the most fun event to watch, beating a field of five other events by more than 30 votes.
The 200 free topped the 400 IM in a poll where longer, more strategic events took precedent over shorter, sprintier races. The 50 free did earn almost 20% of the votes, but the 100s of fly, back and breast only gained a combined 25.7% of the total votes.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks voters who they think will take over for Brett Hawke as the next head coach at Auburn University.
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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner
I didn’t see the poll but I have to agree with this selection. The 200 is long enough for different strategies and twists of fate but short enough to allow blanket finishes with dependable regularity. Overall I am more interested in the individual medleys but they tend to separate the field.
I’ll say it. Townley Haas, and that stable full of great 200 Free Swimmers make it look exciting. Give the Big T-Man some credit. He has brought the noise when it has counted most on Team USA Relays, Texas relays and 200 & 500 YD Free. He is a quiet giant and great for Team USA. Lots of credit to Eddie Reese but the fire continues to burn bright in that young man’s belly.
No one wants to watch mile but the coach and parents
No way. It’s 200 fly all the way. The swimmers swim. Takes power, brains and grace. A thing of beauty when done right. Painful if you don’t embrace it.
Where but in 200 event you will hear that elite swimmers hate it. Where rather than in 200 event you will hear most frequently that a winner was about to throw up. Where else but in 200 event you can see that a swimmer who was the first at last turn finishes the last. Why is it so attractive? Maybe seeing somebody else’s suffering makes spectators feeling better about themselves? 😀
In a poll of the worst things to swim, the 200 free would probably rank near the top. Maybe that’s why everyone enjoys watching it; because that means they’re not swimming it.
Why aren’t relays a part of this?
100 Free shoulda been in there. I can’t think of anything as exciting. Even a slow race or whatever, down and back is always a classic.
I think they excluded that because everyone would pick it. It’s the blue ribbon.