Swim Poll of the Week: 86% Think US Olympic Trials Should Have Morning Finals
Channel: swimmingworldtv
Date: 2021-04-30

This is the Swim Poll of the Week for Friday April 30, 2021, sponsored by Strechcordz Swim Training Products. In our last poll, we wanted to know: Do you think USA Swimming should have had Olympic Trials in the morning to mirror the Olympic schedule?

The Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer will hold finals in the morning in order to adhere to US TV audiences so swimming can be viewed live in prime time. The start of finals has been manipulated by TV audiences in Rio and in Beijing in order for the American TV audiences to view the Games in the best possible slot and to drive ratings for the networks.

Rather than try to fight the powers that be, many federations have swum their Olympic Trials and other qualifying meets with morning finals to best prepare their athletes. However, the US has only had the TYR Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo adopt this schedule, with Olympic Trials in Omaha set for a normal morning prelims and night finals. Countries like China and Japan have had morning finals for some meets this year, but others have stuck to having Trials with night finals. Do you think this is the best approach or is it fine as is?