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 weigh in on the International Olympic Committee’s decision to heavily restrict which Russian athletes could and could not compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics:
RESULTS
Question: Did the IOC Decision on Russia at the 2016 Olympics…
- Not go far enough?- 58.0%
- Hit the nail on the head? – 24.7%
- Go too far? – 17.3%
More than half of respondents said they felt the IOC’s decision didn’t go far enough, and only 17.3% – 172 total votes – felt it was too strict a punishment.
The results are a little skewed by the fluidity of the situation. When we posted the poll on July 26, it appeared that 7 Russian swimmers – including 2012 Olympic medalists Yulia Efimova, Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev – would miss out on the Rio Olympics.
Our poll was open through yesterday, and during that stretch, the eligibility of all 7 continued to hang in the air, with rumors suggesting their inclusion even as all the major sporting federations, courts and decision-makers denied those rumors, refused to answer our requests for clarification and publicly juggled the final decision between them in a slew of often-contradictory statements on who had the final say.
We got confirmation on Morozov and Lobintsev just a few days out from the Olympics and Efimova on the first day of swimming action, but the other 4 Russian swimmers’ eligibility has only been confirmed as they appear behind the blocks in Rio.
We’ve already seen Daria Ustinova swim the 100 back and Natalia Lovtcova swim the 100 fly. That means 5 of the 7 originally banned swimmers have already competed in Rio, suggesting that whichever organization truly did have the final say could be safely counted in the 17.3% of voters who felt the original punishment went too far.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks voters to pick the most impressive female swimmer through 2 days of the Rio Olympics:
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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
A3 Performance was founded in 2004 and is based in Wisconsin. A3 Performance was founded on the ideals that great products could be made and offered at great prices. Innovation and purpose is the focus of all product development. The swimmer is the focus of everything we do.
The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner
Russia’s association with cheating and sports is kind of permanently now in the hearts and minds of fans. Even if they win, they lose – ie anyone who does win will be booed and associated with the iron curtain era of the law being ‘whatever you got away with was legal’…. Feels like the beginning of a long downward spiral here.
That is the weirdest photo ever.
They didn’t go far enough, why would Russia stop systematic doping in the future if somehow athletes with legit medal chances get to swim via appeals…..
You mean go *too far…..
The International Paralympic Committee just announced its ban on Russia which is exactly what the IOC didn’t have the guts to do. Very thankful that justice will at least be served at the Paralympic Games.
just wait until the last days before paralympics start.. they’ll all be allowed to start..