Blog do Coach: New FINA Approved Underwater Lap Counters Creating Minor Controversy In Doha

This weekend, FINA approved the use of underwater, electric lap counters made by Omega that display the number of laps remaining in a race on the bottom of the pool. Although the new devices will not be used until the women’s 800 meter freestyle tomorrow, the devices are already in the water.

Despite not being in use on the meet’s first day, they did have an affect on today’s races. Several swimmers noted that they missed walls with the devices being located near the “T” just before the wall. Brazilian swimmers Cesar Cielo, Joao de Lucca, and Allan Victoria all missed walls, which lead to a complaint from the Brazilian Team, according to Blog do Coach.

Omega listened to the team and worked with the meet organizers to move the lap counters out to the five meter mark, just below the flags, rather than obscuring the important reference points going into the walls.

With any new equipment, there are kinks to be worked out; the timing of the decision to approve these counters meant that those kinks were left to be worked out at the World Championships.

 

6
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

6 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rafa
9 years ago

Is it posible to buy the underwater lap counter?

DeepwaterHB
Reply to  Rafa
8 years ago

That may be well possible, There is a company that shows this type of waterproof screen on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvdyD3tEkANYQzBZKIokjbw

Hulk Swim
10 years ago

Are you guys really sure linking to and promoting Alex Pussieldi’s site is a good idea?

http://concussioninc.net/?p=8652

Swim1
Reply to  Hulk Swim
10 years ago

Hulk Smash.

gpo
10 years ago

My question is if you are behind on pace does the counter shake or get turned upside down.

Coacherik
10 years ago

My only question was whether or not these counters were in the pool prior to warmup before prelims. If so, these guys learned as age groupers to get familiar with walls, lines, landmarks, etc. before the session starts.

About Tony Carroll

Tony Carroll

The writer formerly known as "Troy Gennaro", better known as Tony Carroll, has been working with SwimSwam since April of 2013. Tony grew up in northern Indiana and started swimming in 2003 when his dad forced him to join the local swim team. Reluctantly, he joined on the condition that …

Read More »