(I) When US athlete Frank Jarvis clocked 11 seconds to
win the 100m at the Olympic final in Paris in 1900, it was
considered a miracle. (II) Today, such a time would not
even qualify an athlete for the English Schools Senior
Boys’ National Standard of 10.9 seconds. (III) So what
has changed? (IV) The most significant factor is the
change in body shape in elite athletes – they have
longer legs and arms, and it gives them an advantage
from the mid-point of the race onwards. (V) However,
swimmers have to use four times as much energy as
runners to cover the same distance