Are technological advances in some sports, such as swimming, golf and tennis, becoming the primary factor in who wins, rather than the natural talent and training of the athletes?

I dunno since I never follow sports...

Yes, they should all swim, golf and return serves naked.

No, but that swimming costume thing is grr.

Unless you look at NASCAR. They are equalizing all the cars so the only way to win is being the better - and luckier - driver. Therefore, I no longer watch it. It's supposed to be STOCK cars... Ok, I'll quit.

The Olympics should be done naked, as they were originally intended

No......... only because its available to all, its certainly the reason why records keep getting broken, but a 130 mph serve in tennis still has to "served" by a great athlete

an unfair enhancement, yes, primary factor, no; tools are tools.

Yes, I think so.

I GUESS I AM NOT KEEPING UP WITH THESE TECHNOLOGIES YOU SPEAK OF BUT I WOULD THINK WHAT EVER THEY ARE ALL WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY. SO DOESN'T THE PERSON STILL HAVE TO HAVE TALENT AND STILL HAVE TO TRAIN? OR COULD JUST BEING BETTER AT UTILIZING TECHNOLOGIES GIVE SOMEONE WITH LESS TALENT IN THE SPORT MORE OF AN EDGE?

WTF? How can there be technological advances in swimming?? Genetically altered human beings? As far as golf or tennis the player's skill still determines the outcome. No fancy clubs, rackets, etc. can be the primary factor. A bit of an edge - maybe.

No. I could use the same golf club as the pros but they'll still win because they're much better. Especially with golf. Having a club that supposedly hits farther..or a ball that supposedly flies farther is no good if you can't hit the ball..and it really doesn't matter if your short game is the worst thing in the world. Hence why I get excited when I get a real bogey.

For swimming it's those body suits they wore during the Olympics.

Oh, I don't know.

Okay, but wouldn't know about that. Don't watch Olympics or any other sports. I'd watch sports if they brought back gladiators, only this time make it gladiators vs. muslims.

Oh well..the gladiators'd probably be on 'roids.

technological advances as long as they are allowed across the board with competitors, only enhance their natural ability. so the most talented and most well trained will still win...... the problem lies in comparing athletes records or play of today with competitors from the past without the advances............. or comparing athletes at the top of a sport who can not for whatever reason use the current technology to those at the top who can.
for example, comparing the williams sisters play now to chris everett or martina navratilova or players from 30 or 40 yrs ago, can't really compare. the rackets now make all players hit so much harder and the game thus is completely different now. same with comparing pete samprass to bjorn borg, difficult.......... i think this runs across the board. what mark spitz did with the technology at the time is AMAZING........ phelps is amazing but he definitely has the tech advantage.

Personally I think the whole sports thing is way over rated. Why should some idiot who happens to be able to hit or throw a ball be worth millions of dollars. The only way sports would be interesting is if the losers were beheaded after the game.

I don't think so.

No, because the standards of human endurance are also improving, so you couldn't win by just relying on the technology.

Lost 6-3 6-2 yesterday...

Definitely in F1, which is the only sport I'm interested in, but that's the nature of motorsport. I heard about some new 'supersuits' swimmers now have - the ones that have been splitting at the bum when they dive. Other than that, no idea.

I still don't see how we can be getting faster, quicker, etc. Evolution of human development surely doesn't work that way in our modern society.

> I still don't see how we can be getting faster, quicker, etc. Evolution
> of human development surely doesn't work that way in our modern society.
>

It's all about better technology, better training methods and better diets. They all help to increase your time or performance.