Higher, stronger…slower? Why the Paris Olympic pool has a problem

livemint.com:

NANTERRE , FRANCE : Several days into an Olympic swim meet that has featured uncharacteristically sluggish times and a decided lack of world records, a potential problem has emerged: The water might be too shallow. The pool constructed on the customary site of a rugby pitch measures 2.2 meters deep, or roughly 7-feet-2, which means French basketball star Victor Wembanyama could comfortably stand in it. At recent Olympics, the pool has always been around 3 meters deep—a difference of nearly 3 feet.

It might sound strange to anyone who lacks the amphibious qualities of an elite swimmer to hear that such a small amount could possibly matter. But in a sport where contests are settled by as little as a hundredth of a second, even the tiniest variation in pool specs can determine whether records fall—typically a hallmark of Olympic swimming. So far, the world records have stayed stubbornly intact, even those that seemed primed to crumble due to the collection of talent gathered here.

Not even swimming’s biggest stars, like France’s Léon Marchand and Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, have managed to conquer the waters of Paris La Défense Arena. But it turns out it might not be the athletes who are to blame—but the pool itself. “The Olympics are all about racing, it’s all about getting your hand to the wall," said seven-time gold medalist Katie Ledecky.

The problem for the Paris Games is those hands are touching the wall a little slower than normal. Paris 2024 organizers didn’t respond to a request for comment. With capacity for 40,000 spectators—massive for an indoor arena—La Défense Arena has a cavernous interior.

That’s perfect for its usual tenants. French rugby club Racing 92 calls the arena home. Taylor Swift recently had a