Olympic swimming has too many events

[SpeedFreak]

Other than freestyle none of the other strokes makes sense to me. They are varying ways of swimming a distance in a less than optimum time. (speedwalking also falls into this category)

I actually believe a fair analogy would be running the 100m backwards. It can be done, would require unique skill and would also be utterly pointless.

Does anybody else share my confusion?

 

[SpeedFreak]

Just because you don't like swimming doesn't make it irrelevant, in the same way that me not liking football doesn't make it irrelevant. Golf, on the otherhand, is utterly pointless.

I do like swimming though.........

 

[SpeedFreak]

So what about Hammer, Shotput and Javelin?

Cycling again is an example of many different events across the board...

Your mistake is believing that the different strokes don't require different skill sets...

kd

You forgot discus. I see these events as evolutions of weapons and historic Olympic events.

Cycling I can't agree with as many of the events are tactical and have completely different approches, points race, sprint and road race are all very different in approach and goal.

Please don't make me quote myself, I did not say there was no skill involved so please take the time to re-read my opening post. I just don't see why you would do a task in a sub optimal way.