So me and Nitul were discussing this yesterday. As to how exactly do they measure the finish time in swimming, running, etc.
Do the swimmers need to touch something which will automatically stop the clock?
The runners just barge into the end rope. So is it just the camera that records the time there?
Anyone knows?
For Swimming, (at least in world events)you need to touch a sensor (a big one) at the end of the race (which is there on the wall) which then takes the timings. That is why you see the diff of 100th of a second in timings for swimming. Check any swimming event and when they show it in slow motion the ending – watch how they touch the wall at the end.
BTW – anyone watch the 4×100 free where M.phelps team won and came from behind to get a gold (the french per the news mentioned “we are going to crush the Americans” in this event) but US won by 7/100th of a second and the french got silver.
Here is the link for that 4×100
Open in IE.