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 about the bigger threat to swimming:
RESULTS
Question: Which is a bigger threat to the sport?
- Doping – 89.1%
- Intentional misrepresentation for para swimmers – 10.9%
SwimSwam readers resoundingly voted doping as a bigger threat to the sport than misrepresentation of physical abilities in classing tests for Paralympic swimmers.
Both were major issues during the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Russia’s entire track & field program was barred from the Olympics, and all Russian athletes were banned from the Paralympics after allegations of state-sponsored doping. And at the Games, accusations of cheating were leveled at a host of athletes by fans and other athletes, including widespread crowd boos for Russian’s Yulia Efimova and Vladimir Morozov, a feud between Efimova and American breaststroker Lilly King and a distance rivalry that saw Australia’s Mack Horton call out Chinese world record-holder Sun Yang. At the Paralympics, allegations swirled about athletes who had been reclassified only to win gold medals or smash world records in their new classes.
The results of the poll vote are somewhat unsurprising given the relative popularity of the Paralympics compared to the Olympics. While almost every sports fan on the planet tuned in to at least some of the Olympic coverage, the Paralympics are still less publicized, and many fans likely didn’t follow the full scope of the misrepresentation controversy.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks voters
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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
AB
hmmm… I’ll agree that as a source of revenue stream, the Non-Paralympic categories of our events draw the larger crowds, the bigger broadcasting deals, and have the more recognizable names. So, yes, from a business/popularity venture, I’d have to agree…. Dishonesty leading to doping is more relevant.
HOWEVER. If you are an able-bodied (or mostly able-bodied) athlete cheating the disability classification system in order to win medals, sponsorships, prize money, or fame, then you are the LOWEST form of human individual on the planet.
At least in the ‘Doping can give a slight edge’ argument, lower quality athletes have a slight edge and are still potentially beatable, shameful as it is. When someone who is already strong cheats a… Read more »
Yeeeeah, but it’s the Paralympics, so who REALLY cares?
I for one am shocked. SHOCKED I TELL YOU