Jason Moody of Powerhouse Timing and Bob Seagren and Bart Davis of Run Racing constructed a start and finish pontoon at the USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championships that enabled split times to be taken on each loop.
With knowledge of accurate split times, coaches and athletes can better prepare themselves for racing and the media and fans have more information to analyze.
As the athletes passed under the start truss, their split times were transmitted by the transponders on their wrists by the overhead timing system. The split times were automatically and immediately posted online.
This is an example of how technology is being integrated to the sport, although engineering these solutions in open bodies of water is often easier said than done.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.