The Evolution of Timing in Olympic Sports

The 1960 Olympics in Rome marked a turning point in the way timing was conducted in swimming events. The gold medal awarded in the 100-meter freestyle men’s swimming event to Australian swimmer John Devitt sparked controversy when American Lance Larson recorded the same finish time of 55.2 seconds. Despite Larson technically being quicker by one-tenth of a second, head judge Hans Runströmer declared Devitt the winner. This controversial decision ultimately led to advancements in timing technology to eliminate human error.

Omega, known for providing timing devices for the Olympics since 1932, has continuously evolved its technology to ensure precise and accurate timing in sporting events. In response to controversies like the one in the 1960 Olympics, Omega developed touch boards for swimming lanes to eliminate any issues with athletes timing themselves. Additionally, Omega introduced electronic starting pistols connected to speakers behind each athlete to ensure a fair start in staggered-lane races like the 400 meter.

Over the years, Omega’s Swiss Timing branch has shifted its focus from simply recording start and finish times to telling the complete story of a race. The introduction of photo finishes in the 1940s revolutionized the way races were judged, allowing for decisions to be made in minutes rather than hours. The development of Scan-o-Vision technology, capable of capturing up to 40,000 digital images per second, has further enhanced the precision of timing in Olympic events.

As technology continues to advance, Omega’s Swiss Timing branch remains at the forefront of innovation in sports timing. The storytelling aspect of timing has become increasingly important, with the ability to capture multiple plotlines within a single race. The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics are set to showcase even more technological advancements in timing, building upon the pivotal developments made in 2018.

The evolution of timing in Olympic sports has come a long way since the controversial decision at the 1960 Olympics. Thanks to advancements in technology by Omega’s Swiss Timing branch, the precision and accuracy of timing in sporting events have reached unprecedented levels, ensuring fair competition and captivating storytelling in every race.