The Australian Dawn Fraser claimed she could have broken every record in the book if allowed to swim naked. Nudity originated in the Greek Olympics when Orsippus dropped his loin-cloth and was seen to gain a distinct advantage thereby. Olympic swimmers are subject to conditions unique to them. They remain isolated in their lanes. There is no convergence or contact as with runners.
Chance plays a considerable part even at the highest level.
A swimmer can be far ahead at the finish, yet mistime his final stroke, or be drawn in a lane where he is forced to breathe on his 'wrong' side up the final length. A photograph from 1936 shows the Japanese Uto well ahead towards the finish, yet losing to the lunging American outside him. I just surfed in on his wake,' was Armstrong's answer to reporters who wondered how he had ever beaten Biondi. Nor are the physiques of swimmers like those of other athletes. The best swimmers rarely excel at other sports, as their bodies are too finely tuned to adapt.