The Olympics in Rome in 1960 saw one of the most controversial gold medals awarded in the 100-meter freestyle men’s swimming event. Australian swimmer John Devitt and American Lance Larson recorded the same finish time of 55.2 seconds. Despite Larson being technically quicker by one-tenth of a second, Devitt was declared the winner by the head judge, Hans Runströmer from Sweden. This incident highlighted the need for more accurate timing methods in swimming competitions.
By 1968, Omega had developed touch boards for the ends of swimming lanes to eliminate the risk of human error in timing. This innovation was a response to the controversy surrounding the 1960 Olympic gold medal. Omega’s Swiss Timing division, led by Alain Zobrist, is responsible for developing advanced timing technologies for various sports. For example, in 2024, Omega introduced an electronic starting pistol connected to speakers behind each athlete to ensure fairness in staggered-lane races like the 400 meter.
Omega’s Scan-o-Vision technology is capable of capturing up to 40,000 digital images per second, allowing judges to make quick and accurate decisions during photo finishes. This advancement has significantly reduced the time it takes to determine race results, improving the overall efficiency of Olympic swimming competitions. Swiss Timing’s focus has shifted from simply timing races to telling the complete story of each race, providing a more comprehensive viewing experience for fans and athletes alike.
As preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics continue, Omega’s Swiss Timing division is constantly working on new innovations to further enhance the accuracy and storytelling capabilities of timing technology. The year 2018 was a pivotal moment for Swiss Timing, marking a significant leap in their technological advancements. With each new development, the world of Olympic swimming timing continues to evolve, providing athletes with a fair and accurate platform to showcase their skills on the global stage.