This is one of the reasons why it is important to get the arms up quickly pointing the way up and out as though aiming up towards the backstroke flags. An excessively slow tempo in squatting or stretching the elastic muscles as we see from the track-start technique allows potential energy to be squandered. Not only is power production sacrificed, the dive entry will also either hook or slice. We travel three to ten times faster in the air than in the water. The value adopted internationally for gravitational acceleration is 9.806 meters per second per second.
Water speed is approximately.
The power of the start comes from gravity. It is not so much who gets to the water first that wins the start. It's the momentum that is created and the path of least resistance to the momentum that wins at 15 meters. If swimmers set their sights on being the most skilled in starts, their national status would be affected in a very noticeable fashion. Secrets of Powerful-starts in swimming.