203

RUNNING AND SWIMMING WORLD RECORDS

This paper is dedicated to Professor Archibald Vivian Hill on theoccasion of his 90th birthday.

P. JOKL, M.D.* and E. JOKL, M.D.t

*fept. of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of Athletic Medicine,Yale Medical School, 17 Hillhome Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, U.S.A.

tMedical School, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, U.S.A.

"in the data of athletic records we have a store of information available for physiological study."

A. V. Hill in "The Physiological Basis of Athletic Records", The Scientific Monthly, 1925.

TABLE IRUNNING AND SWIMMING WORLD RECORDS AFTER MONTREAL 1976

Analyses of current world records (Table I) show thatthe decline of speed with distance is greater in runningthan in swimming. Figs. 1 and 2 indicate the magnitudeof the decline expressed for each world record (WR) as

percentage of velocity of the 100 m speed.' In terms oftheir duration, the 1,500 m running and the 400 m freestyle swimming events are comparable: Within less than4 minutes runners lose about 30% velocity, swimmersonly 10%;2 within about 1/4 of an hour runners lose 37%(see Putteman's 5000 m WR), swimmers only 17% (seeGoodell's 1500 m WR).

TABLE 11

TIMEEVENT DISTANCE MEN

Running 100 m 9.95 sec.

Swimming 100 m 49.99 sec.

(New record by J. SKINNER of 49.44 pending.)

min. sec.

Running 1,500 m 3 : 32.2Swimming 400 m 3 51.93

WOMEN

1 1.01 sec.

55.65 sec.

min. sec.

3 : 56.04 09.89

DISTANCE MEN WOMENMETERS

NAME-YEAR RECORD % MAXIMUM NAME-YEAR RECORD % MAXIMUMTIME VELOCITY TIME VELOCITY

100 J. HINES (1968) 9.95 100.00 A. RICHTER (1976) 11.01 100.00200 T. SMITH (1968) 19.80 100.51 I. SZEWINSKA (1974) 22.21 99.14400 L. EVANS (1968) 43.86 90.74 I. SZEWINSKA (1976) 49.29 89.35

Z 800 A. JUANTORENA (1976) 1:43.50 76.91 F. KAZANKINA (1976) 1:54.90 76.66D 1500 F. BAYI (1974) 3:32.20 70.33 F. KAZANKINA (1976) 3:56.00 69.98c 3000 B. FOSTER (1974) 7:35.20 65.58 L. BRAGINA (1975) 8:27.12 65.13

5000 E. PUTTEMANS (1972) 13:13.00 62.7410000 D. BEDFORD (1973) 27:30.80 60.27 C. VAHLENSIECK (1975) 34:01.40 53.9342000 D. CLAYTON (1969) 2:08:34. 54.17 J. HANSEN (1975) 2:38:19. 48.68

100 J. MONTGOMERY (1976) 49.99 100.00 K. ENDER (1976) 55.65 100.002 200 B. FURNISS (1976) 1:50.29 90.65 K. ENDER (1976) 1:59.26 93.33

400 B. GOODELL (1976) 3:51.93 90.10 P. THUMER (1976) 4:09.89 89.08800 S. HOLLAND (1976) 8:02.91 82.81 P. THUMER (1976) 8:37.14 86.091500 B. GOODELL (1976) 15:02.40 83.10 J. TURALL (1974) 16:33.94 83.98

copyright. on S

eptember 2, 2021 by guest. P

rotected byhttp://bjsm

.bmj.com

/B

r J Sports M

ed: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.10.4.203 on 1 D

ecember 1976. D

ownloaded from

204

-~~~~~~~~~........erseo .....Fig. 3. Roentgenometric demonstration of the change of heart size in relation to posture and immersion in a bath (Subject WJ.). Thelines to calculate heart volume from the postero-anterior (left) and the lateral projection (right) have been drawn. Note the increase incurviture of the contour of right atrial silhouette with increasing heart volume indicating a preferential volume uptake and distension ofthe atrium

Photograph - Otto Gauer

copyright. on S

eptember 2, 2021 by guest. P

rotected byhttp://bjsm

.bmj.com

/B

r J Sports M

ed: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.10.4.203 on 1 D

ecember 1976. D

ownloaded from

MENDecline of Running and Swimming Speed with DistanceBased on World Records in Swimming (lOOm-1500m) and

Running (lOOm -5000 m)Expressed as Percentage Values of Maximal Velocity per Unit of Time

August 19761O0 im World Record a 100% Maximal Velocity

205

WOMENDecline of Running and Swimming Speed with DistanceBased on World Records in Swimming (100m-1500m) and

Running (lOOm -3000 m)

Expressed as Percentage Values of Maximal Velocity per Unit of TimeAugust 1976

lOOm World Record = 100% Maximal Velocity

600 800 1000

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18Time in Minutes

Fig. 1

The differences in rates of decline of velocity becomegreater with increasing distances. On the whole runnerslose speed at rates almost three times greater than swim-mers.

What are the causes of this discrepancy? The answerhas come from recent investigations into the state ofweightlessness, a problem of major importance for spacemedicine. During immersion of the body in water whichsimulates the state of weightlessness, the heart enlargesand expels more blood with each systole. Since theswimmer lies in the water horizontally his heart's abilityto expel blood forward is further enhanced. Also, thecool environment causes blood to be diverted from theskin to the central circulation.

The roentgenograms in figure 3 were obtained byProfessor Otto Gauer of Berlin. Cardiac volume of theperson standing was 698 ml; after adoption of the supineposition, 771 ml; and following immersion, 922 ml.

Thus the heart of swimmers enjoys three advantages:weightlessness, the horizontal body position, and thecooling effect of the water.

"That people think to some degree in logarithms,although unconsciously, is shown by the fact thatthe records which men have thought worthwhileto make are distributed approximately uniformlyif thus plotted."

100

(. 90

.E 80

_ 70

06050

Time in Seconds0 200 400 600 800 1000

I ~~I100 . -A. RICHTER

200- - 1. SZEWINSKA WOMEN- lOO-K ENDER-~f-- Running- -0-Swimming

\ Q00 w - K. ENOERv40m 400a s - P. THUMER

1. SZEWINSKA _THUm R

- \- 01500 m -J. TURALL

00 - F. KAZANKINA

- \i,5OO.-F. KAZANKINA

- -.._ _ 3000m - L. BRAGINA

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16Time in Minutes

Fig. 2

The progressive limitation of speed with increasingdistances reveals a biological law whose determining in-fluence is expressed by the parallelism of the two lines infigs. 4a and b, plotted on double logarithmic scales usingthe pre-Montreal World Records. One line depicts thedecrease of running velocities from 100 to 5,000 m; the

Men's World Recordsin Running (lOOm-5000m)and Swimming (lOOm-i500m)

June 1976Double Logarithmic Scales

5,000

2,000

E 1,000c

o 500

200

100

0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10 20

Time in Minutes50 l00

A. V. Hill, 1925 Fig. 4a

Time in Second0 200 400

100

3-.Z 90

0

I o

- 70c

60

50

_ I I I- lOO-J. HINES- -200m-T. SMITH

MEN- Om-J. MONTGOMERY - Running

\\ * ~~~~SwimmningXO0m-3.FURNISS

_0M--.GOO0ELL

- 400 -L.EVANS -

_ \, IO1500i-B.ODELL

\!OOm-A.JUANTORENO

-'15OOm-F. AYI

-_ 00S "m-S. FOSTER

5000-E. PUTTEMANS

1 I I I I |1l[ 1 I 1i.....i.... 1..1..i... I

_ I 1111 ' I- MENU

- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~E.PUTTEMANS X4972)- -Ru Running 13i E5''- S~ wimming ""CSwimming ~~~~~B.FOSTER 119741

F. AYI 1974) /3.32.2- S. HOLLAND (1976)

M. FlASCONARO, {979}3_ ~~~~~~~ ~ ~~1:43,7g SOLLAND (1976)

_ 3.9/8:02.9

L. EVANS (1968)(1946)wf /4.SH 1975)

o Z ~~~~~~~~3:53.31

D. QUARRIE 1971)-/ XB. F~~~~~~~~~~URNISS(1975)/ / ~~~~~~~1:50.32

J HINESo/

-9 zJ.TCOMER~~~~~~~~Y(1975)50.59

copyright. on S

eptember 2, 2021 by guest. P

rotected byhttp://bjsm

.bmj.com

/B

r J Sports M

ed: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.10.4.203 on 1 D

ecember 1976. D

ownloaded from

206

Women's World Recordsin Running (lOOm-3000m)and Swimming (lOOm-1500m)

June 1976Double Logarithmic Scales

',°°° - ' "I1101 'I'IIWOMEN

5,000 - - RunningSwimming

/ tl 46.6

2,000,W. 660(71 JTUPIALL (4174)

1,000 _ /- s. ZLATEVA (11573) JTURALL 1975)

500XR.SA1.INl541M.INS (194Sl50,14 / 414.76

200 - SZEWINSKA (194741 .660( (1597)/ 22.0 ~~~~~2:02.27

100 - d TYUSI56 6.1906It1975

, , I, , I,0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10

Time in Minuteslb

20 50 100

100

90

.E 80

x

- 70IV

a-

50

Comparison of Mens and Women's World Recordsin Swimming (lOOm-1500m)

June 1976Double Logarithmic Scales

5,000

2,000W

ws 1,000

c 500c:

200

100

0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10Time in Minutes

20 50 ioo

Fig.6Comparison of Men's and Women's World Records

in Running (lOOm-42200m)June 1976

Double Logarithmic Scales

20,000

10,000

5,000

2.000

I1,000

200

100

0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10 20 50 IUO 200 DW0 100

Time in Minutes

Fig 5

other that of swimming velocities from 100 m to 1,500m. The law thus identified pertains to rates of produc-tion of kinetic energy. Irrespective of the physiologicaldifferences between swimming and running, the timerelation of the two clusters of world records is modifiedby a common metabolic determinant, a fact recognised50 years ago by A. V. Hill. The time relations of runningand swimming are the same for the post-Montrealrecords shown in Table I, also in respect of the computa-tions for Figs. 5-7.

In figs. 5 and 6, swimming and running records formen and women are plotted in relation to distances,

Percentage Values of Maximal Velocities of Men and 'Womenin Running (100m-42200mJ, Computed from World Records

June 1976100 m World Record 100% Maximal Velocity

III111111111111111111111111111111 111111

200 m RUNNING- |-Men-4-- Women

400 m

_800M

1500 m3000 m

3000 1000n m

~ IOOOOm

42200m

ii

_ I I I IIIIIIIiIlIii i Ii I Ii I II I I II0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000

Distance in Meters

Fig. 7

again on double logarithmic scales. Surprisingly themathematical progression demonstrated with the datapresented in fig. 4, applies to races up to 42,000 m.Percentage rates of velocities assessed from women'sWRs are slightly lower than those assessed from men'sworld records. (Fig. 7).

Hill was the first to ponder the fact that the decreaseof speed with increasing time occurs in accordance withmathematically identifiable laws. The latter he deduced

0

F

- ' 'I'''I '' I'''I 'I

SWIMMING- Men

Womens InsTURALL (1(670

S. HOLLAN£ 14761 ,2'8:02.96 TURALL (165

_ 6:43.48

t. SHAW 651 /

B.FURNISS (1975) /3226 EMDEN 1975

/ 2:02.27

J MONtTGOMERY (t9rs} ENDER (19r550.59 56.22/ II

'ig. 4

T IIIIIIII|III|IIIIIII,}{f

t~~~~~~~~~~~-. Es,

"Wo.. 41o! UNN

t~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~~,Women

I .. tv^"$ , .... Aw I~F3 ">. sL- l~~to} /

o~~au^*"lezlwtl}P t22z 1~~~~~11, *Y95 '-1 "S X~

I ;.r j! lll { IAIIIN ,I IKAII/I

L-

copyright. on S

eptember 2, 2021 by guest. P

rotected byhttp://bjsm

.bmj.com

/B

r J Sports M

ed: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.10.4.203 on 1 D

ecember 1976. D

ownloaded from

0 C_

o 2

=CLWUWUOO

. .

"^ *q rt :5#Au C

J S'. R a

0 ° 0°

0

a) C

Q)-

LL E0+- E 3

0 wIo0OI

0 0° ° qN i) V _

U-3

I I I I -I I I Ii

q O. O O 00 0cm If) v W)

o~~~~~~(

0

0o

0-.ty

I0

a '

207

U)

4%bi

0) CNE.c-E --CO

0)o C

C)._ C

Q'a

0.0- 0O o

0)Cc

a 0

.A

-E W

C.)

goE

0

CVn

c E 0M

04-0_0)~

C n4-

M 0 *-

0.ooQ O E

QQX

0)0o

0

EO '0-

v .

0)4._ U)a,.E_ O

H _

<1w c 0

CC

>B0D° COB sC) O B C,

8=CE-o > BL

...>OCC) 0L

> EE. CD'

°j = a) -

4 -0

> C

0)E+j E -a~C.

~.0 <CL

C>) E oE 0

0)

E E E CD -E CN E

~

U)

Lii

ID

a)_ N

_ cOj0g

0

LiJ00

LI.

20

9" M a MPoCM@LO CD

0It0CMNI')Ch0N lO

1. (A sN@ Zt ou

Cc - --- -i CD

w L qA... .......iw=< -J-WWVw-~o-l b~

0

0

C~co

Uf)cn

11d

0

4

IIU0

W)

copyright. on S

eptember 2, 2021 by guest. P

rotected byhttp://bjsm

.bmj.com

/B

r J Sports M

ed: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.10.4.203 on 1 D

ecember 1976. D

ownloaded from

% Deviation of Mexico City Winning Timesfrom World Records 1968

Men

HINES 9 9 (10 0)

SMITH 198 (200)

USA 38 2 (386)

EVANS 43 8 (44 5)

USA 2 56 (3 02 8)

DAVENPORT 13 3 (13 2)

HEMERY 48 (49 1)

DOUBELL 1443 (( 44 3)

KEINO 3 34 9 (3 33 1)

BIWOTT 8 5 l0 (8 26 4)

GAMMOUDI 14 05 (13 16 66)

TEMU 29 27 4 (27 39 4)

WALDE 2 20 26 4 (2 12 11 2)

Fig. 1Oa

80RZOV

80RZOV

USA

MATTHEWS

KE NYA

MILBURN

AKI -BLIA

WOTTLE

VASALA

KEINO

VIREN

VIREN

SHORTER

Fig. 1OX

CRAWFORD

OUARRI|E

USA

JUANTORENA

USA

DRUT

MOSES

JUANTORENA

WALKER

GARDE RUD

VIREN

VIREN

CIERPINSKI

-100

-20U' !

-4 xiO40

-400

_4 x 400

~400 1H00

1500

3000sC

5000

- 10.000

-42,000

% Deviation of Munich Winning Timesfrom World Records 1972

Men98 7 6 5 4 3 2 _ .o _ 2

101 (9 9) [100

200 (198) hi 200

38 2 (38 2) i4 xI00

44 7 (438) 400

2 59 8 (2 56 1) 4 . 400

(3 2 ((3 2)

47 8 (48)1) 04002H

1459 ((443) 800

3 36 3 (3 33 (500

8236 (8220) 30005c

13 264 (13 16 6) At 5000

27384 (27394) 10.000

2 12 )9 8 (2 08 33 6) 42,000

performances during the past decades we present fig. 8.Petra Thumer's world record time of 4: 09.89 surpassesDon Scholander's world record of 1964.

Jenny Turrell's 1974 1,500 m world record-time of16: 33.9 is better than that of all winners of the men'sraces at Olympic Games prior to 1972. It will soon beimproved further.

As regards running performances today we refer toJackie Hansen's 1975 Marathon world record of 2 :38.10 which would have sufficed to beat Olympic GoldMedalists Spiridon Louis (Athens 1896), Michel Theato(Paris 1900), John Hayes (London 1908), KennethMacArthur (Stockholm 1912), and Albin Stenroos (Paris1924).

Most world records are likely to be improved but atdifferent rates. In a few athletic disciplines, e.g. the longjump, the limits of records seem to have been reached; inothers, e.g. the sprints their outlines are in sight, Fig.10a, b, c; while some sports e.g. swimming are still instatu nascendi and an estimate of records is as yet notpossible, Fig. 1 1.

1500m FREE STYLE SWIMMING (MEN)

MIN.(5:00.0-

!5(30.0-

16 00.0 -

16:30.0-

17:00.0 -

17:30.0-

18:00.0-

18:30.0

19'00.0-

19: 30.0 -

20:00.0~

% Deviation of Montreal Winning Timesfrom World Records 1976

Men

987 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2

(006 (9 95) |100

20 23 (9 81) [200

3833 (38:(9) 4]100

44.26 (4.86) 11400

215865 (2:56 (01 48x400

(3 24013 2410 ) (108

-47 64 (4782) 04,4002

1 43 50 (I43 70 800

3:39( 17 (3 32 201 1500

808 00 (809 81 3000sK

(3 24 76 1)3 (3 001 5000

27 4038 (27 30 80) 0,000

209 5500 12 083360) 042.000

Fig. 1Oc

15:02 40X B. Goodell (1976)

Olympic Gomez, Montrealg5, 10 8 9S H,,IlU2d (1976)

/T. Show 11975)

T. K,.seila (19701 (5:52.58X M. BurtoR (1972)

i. Bosts (9691 Olympic Games, Munich

16:08.5 XM.Bwton (1968)

/16:28.1/XG. Ech*,8o (1968)

/ 16:34.1/ b.0wvo (1967)

16:58.7/R. So,) (1964)

X - WORLD RECORDS

r r I-

(948 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76

YEARS

Fig. 1 1

208

2 0+ I ##

b

copyright. on S

eptember 2, 2021 by guest. P

rotected byhttp://bjsm

.bmj.com

/B

r J Sports M

ed: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.10.4.203 on 1 D

ecember 1976. D

ownloaded from