By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam
Courtesy of Competitor, a SwimSwam partner.
Today’s generation of swimmers – and even the generation preceding them –have only ever known the advanced racing lane technology we see now. But lane lines haven’t always been engineered for performance. Here’s a look at how they’ve evolved over the years.
The First Lane Lines
Lane lines are actually a relatively modern invention. A little over a century ago, lane lines were unheard of – swimmers competed in open water, battling big waves and cold temperatures. It wasn’t until the 1924 Olympics that a version of a lane line was introduced. But they looked far different then. The first lane lines were essentially buoys made of cork, and pools painted black lines on the floor to help orient swimmers. At this time, the goal wasn’t to minimize waves and turbulence, it was simply to keep swimmers moving in a straight line across the pool. It’s safe to say we’ve come a long way since.
Since then, companies like Competitor Swim® have revolutionized lane line design, creating modern lane lines that not only guide swimmers but also assure the most effective use of a swimmer’s energy.
1968: The Introduction of the Non-Turb Racing Lane
Competitor Swim® made its debut at the 1968 Summer Olympics with the launch of the Non-Turb Racing Lane. This innovation set a new industry standard as the first flexible swim lane designed to effectively dissipate turbulent water while creating a wave-control barrier – delivering smoother, faster racing conditions as a result.
1992: Graduating to the Gold Medal Racing Lane
Competitor Swim® continued to refine its technology over the following decades. The result was the Gold Medal Racing Lane, introduced at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Featuring patented engineering that further improved wave control and flow performance, it solidified Competitor Swim’s reputation as a leader in racing lane innovation.
Competitor Swim Racing Lane Technology
Clean, smooth water gives swimmers a competitive edge, helping them glide more efficiently and maintain stronger, more consistent strokes. To make that possible, Competitor Swim® engineered its lane lines with turbulence control in mind, using a system of discs and donuts with flow-through technology that keeps water movement balanced along the entire length of the lane.
Here’s how it works: Each disc rotates independently, allowing the energy from a swimmer’s wake to be absorbed and dispersed through the channel within the lane line. This prevents waves from reflecting back into the lane – eliminating dead spots and water bounce-back – and ensures consistent wave-quelling from one lane to the next.
Competitor has also built a strong reputation for offering some of the longest-lasting lane lines in the industry, thanks to the LifeSpan+ formula. LifeSpan+ combines cutting-edge polymer stabilization and highly durable pigments, dramatically increasing the durability of Competitor racing lanes – even in harsh pool environments.
This formula came from months of testing and a partnership with the University of Akron Institute of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and A. Schulman, a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins. Test results have proven that Competitor lane lines will last double the amount of time over the industry average before they start to deteriorate.
Design Your Racing Lanes Today
Competitor racing lanes are proudly molded and assembled in the U.S., using American-made components – and can be custom-designed in virtually any color pattern you can imagine.
Explore our full range of swimming gear and equipment on our website and use The Lane Wizard – our easy online design tool – to quickly customize and order your perfect racing lanes.
About Competitor Swim
Since 1960, Competitor Swim® has been the leader in the production of racing lanes and other swim products for competitions around the world. Competitor lane lines have been used in countless NCAA Championships, as well as 10 of the past 13 Olympic Games. Molded and assembled using U.S. – made components, Competitor lane lines are durable, easy to set up and are sold through distributors and dealers worldwide.
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