Everything Everywhere Daily: "The Science of Swimming"

Host: Gary Arndt
Date: February 4, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Gary Arndt dives into the history and science behind competitive swimming, focusing on why swimming performances have improved so dramatically over the past century. He discusses key technological advancements, changes in technique, and the evolution of the sport’s infrastructure—explaining why swimming records have seen more dramatic drops than almost any other major Olympic sport.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Evolution of Olympic Swimming

• Olympic Presence: Swimming has featured in every Summer Olympics since 1896, ranking as one of the most popular events (00:00).
• Viewership: Second highest viewership after gymnastics in 2024 Paris Olympics.

Dramatic Improvement in Records

• Male 100m Freestyle:
  • 1924: Johnny Weissmuller set a world record at 59 seconds.
  • 2024: Penn Zhongli set the record at 46.4 seconds—a near 13-second improvement (06:00).
• Female 100m Freestyle:
  • 1924: Ethel Lackey at 1:12.
  • 2024: Sarah Sostrom at 52.16 seconds—a 20-second improvement (06:45).
• Comparison: The men’s 100m running dash time improved by less than a second in the same period.

Factors Beyond Human Physiology

• Diet, rest, and intensive training help, but these are not the main drivers of improvement.
• "Swimming is different from most other sports. Most other sports see changes in records set gradually over time, but in swimming they tend to come in bunches." (08:12)

Technological Advancements in Swimwear

Swim Suits: Material Revolution

• Pre-1970s: Wool suits added drag, absorbed water, were loose, and caused "downforce" (09:20).
• 1912: Silk introduced—less absorbent but see-through, requiring undergarments (10:14).
• Mid-20th Century: Nylon and other smoother, tighter fabrics arrive (10:35).
• Modern "Tech Suits": Blends of nylon, polyester, spandex—sometimes with carbon fiber; ultratight fit, water repellence, and special coatings.
  • "They're made of high tech materials like nylon, polyester and spandex blended to be lightweight and water repellent and sewn to compress the swimmer's body." (11:45)
  • Putting on a suit can take up to 45 minutes and even cause bleeding from tightness.

Polyurethane Suit Era and Ban

• 2008-2009: Polyurethane suits introduce full-body coverage and extra buoyancy.
  • "It's widely believed that because of the swimsuits, 25 world records were broken at the 2008 Olympics and 43 world records were broken at the 2009 World Championships." (12:58)
• 2010 Ban: Non-textile materials banned by swimming’s governing body (now World Aquatics; then FINA) due to "results which were comparable to doping" (14:10).

Swim Caps and Goggles

• Swim caps substantially reduce drag—some swimmers even shave their heads (15:04).
• Goggles allowed swimmers to see underwater, improving turns and lane control (14:45).

Pool Technology and Design

Pool Evolution

• From Open Water to Pools: Switch from lakes/rivers to indoor pools in 1908.
• Temperature and Standards: Early Olympic pools were cold and deep; now kept at 25–28°C (77–82°F) with minimum depth and width standards (17:35).

Lane Lines and Pool Width

• Lane lines reduce cross-lane wave interference; wider lanes become standard.
• 10-lane pools, introduced in 2008, buffer outside lanes from wall waves (18:34).
• Deeper pools (now often 3m) reduce bottom-reflected turbulence (19:22).

Gutters and Wave-Reduction

• Gutters channel overflow and cut wave formation, maintaining consistent water conditions (20:10).

Starting Blocks

• Introduced in 1936, evolved from simple blocks to angled, wedge-equipped platforms for better starts, more like track and field (21:24).
  • "The wedge allows the swimmer to push off at a more efficient 90 degree angle." (21:45)

Technique Improvements

Underwater Dolphin Kick

• "This was swimming's equivalent of the Fosbury flop." (22:34)
• Used with great success in backstroke and butterfly, maximizing distance underwater where drag is lower.
  • Notable users: David Berkoff (1988), Denis Pankratov (1996).
• Now restricted: Only 15 meters underwater per length (23:33).

The Flip Turn

• Introduced by Al Vandeweg (1934); initially misattributed to Tex Robertson.
• Allows swimmers to maintain momentum and save energy compared to previous "touch and turn" methods.
  • "It actually takes less energy to do a full somersault and push off the wall than it does to stop turning, turn your body and then push off the wall again." (25:11)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "Drag can be considered the enemy of the swimmer as something as minimal as arm hair can add Drag to the swimmer's body, which can in turn reduce times." — Gary Arndt (09:57)
• "Swim caps have also undergone technological advancements, including the use of different materials and fittings tailored to different hair types." (15:27)
• "The suit had results which were comparable to doping and threatened the sport's fairness." — on why polyurethane suits were banned (14:35)
• "Swimming at first glance, seems really simple. You just propel yourself through the water as fast as you can go. But swimming has evolved over time, both in technique and in technology, creating major differences in times between today's champions and those of the past." (26:20)

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – Olympic swimming’s enduring presence and popularity
• 06:00 – Historical improvements in record times
• 08:12 – Unique, rapid improvements in swimming
• 09:20 – History and evolution of swimwear materials
• 12:58 – The polyurethane suit era and unprecedented record-breaking
• 14:45 – Role of goggles and swim caps
• 17:35 – Evolution of competitive pools, temperatures, and rules
• 18:34 – Impact of lane lines, wider lanes, and 10-lane pools
• 20:10 – Gutters and turbulence reduction
• 21:24 – Starting block innovations
• 22:34 – The underwater dolphin kick and rule changes
• 24:20 – Flip turn invention and adoption
• 26:20 – Summary: swimming as a sport transformed by technology and technique

Conclusion

This episode showcases how competitive swimming is a sport deeply shaped by continuous wave after wave of innovation—through fabrics, pool architecture, specialized gear, and revolutionary technique. The combination of all these factors explains why the sport’s record times have plummeted so much faster than others, making modern champions almost a different species from their wool-clad predecessors.