agip wrote:
but remember that the rule is that both feet have to be on the ground FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A JUDGE.
In other words, it is only a rule break if the judge can detect two feet airborne. If he can't detect it, then the walker is within the rules.
So no story here.
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Several people have made this point but I disagree with it. Here's why-
a) I watched the end of this race the other day in regular speed video. I IMMEDIATELY detected that the walkers had two feet off the ground. If I can see it in 5 seconds, why can't they?? I am sure they DO detect it also. So apparently the judges actually go by: if the walkers are REALLY ABUSING the rules, we bust them. That's just plain silly. It allows too much leeway, too much potential advantage to those better at pushing the limits of the fake rule, and most importantly no longer makes it walking. It shouldn't be about who can create the "illusion" of walking
b) ALL sports historically have had their rules enforced by the "THE PERSPECTIVE OF A JUDGE" (duh), but now, with advanced technology, have gone with video replay, timing chips, sensors for false starts, etc. Why? Fairness/human error/eliminate biased judge. Race-walking should do the same: chips in the shoes. If you want to allow a minor fraction of a second with both feet airborne, great, define it (.05, or whatever). Or, even better, just not allow the walkers to RUN (allow each walker so many airborne periods, and even warn them on the course when they are hitting their limit, and then DQ them when they surpass it).
Lastly, I agree with the poster who pointed out what most of you ignored: the fine booty on the race winner.