Records come and records go. Some last longer than others. We saw two new world records at the Paris Diamond League meeting July 7th as the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games came into clear focus.
The 37-year-old women’s high jump record set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova in 1987 fell to Ukraine’s Miroslav Yaroslava, who cleared 2.10m (6’10,3/4”) beating the old mark by a single centimeter, as high jumpers and vaulters tend to do for bonus money purposes.
The other record in Paris closed the meet as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon took her own 1500m WR 3:49:11 set in 2023 and brought it down 7/100ths of a second to 3:49.04.
But the thing that stood out was how many other national and personal bests fell behind her, including Aussie Jessica Hull whose 3:50.83 ripped five seconds from her PR in second place.
And not just in the women’s 1500. Same thing happened in the men’s 800 with three sub 1:42s led by Djamel Sedjati’s 1:41:56, and the 3000m with a slew of sub-7:30s.
Same thing happened in the London Diamond League meeting in the final run-up to the Paris Games July 20th, record times tumbling like dominoes.
Everyone kept saying what great, even historic track meets they were. But the cynic in me kept asking, why all the great times at the same time? It is one thing for a single person to set an outstanding mark. But so many? 10th place in the London women’s 800m went to Elena Bello of Italy at 1:58.89. 10th place!
Just as every rosy-eyed fan can’t believe everyone is clean, so does every gimlet-eyed cynic not believe everyone is guilty. So, are these times coming because it’s just days before the Paris Olympics and everyone’s in peak form? Is there something about the Stade Charley and London tracks? Stade Charley is the same track Kipyegon set her 5000m world record on last year.
It can’t still be the super shoes/super spikes, can it? We’ve already built the new tech into consideration over the last 3, 4, 5 years, right? So, why were so many fast times run in Paris and London leading into the Olympics? And should we expect the same in Paris again?
In Harold Bloom’s book The Anxiety of Influence, he quotes philosopher Soren Kirkegaard:
“Everyone shall be remembered, but each becomes great in proportion to his expectation. One became great by expecting the possible, another by expecting the eternal, but he who expected the impossible became greater than all.”
Is that where we are? Is everyone now striving for the greatness to be remembered, and thus the times are falling as in a self prophecy? What are our limits other than one’s we impose on ourselves?
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tonireavis.com 
I have similar reactions: I see the times and get excited, then accept that “it’s gotta be the shoes.” Ok, plus improved training. (And pacing lights?) Some of which is enabled by the “super” training shoes? That said, we’re finally coming up on the ultimate competition, where only winning matters. Some will be disappointed when a winning time is not “fast,” but the owner of the gold (and silver and bronze) can always point to the medal, an “eternal” record that can never be broken.
Rico
PS Regarding jumpers choosing to break records by as little as possible, I seem to remember that when Liz McColgan broke the 10k road best by a huge amount, her coach/husband(?) was upset that she didn’t back off so that she could break it again sooner 🙂 (And I don’t think she broke it again.) Regardless, her Olympic medal still shines.
You mentioned the Technology & Psychology, however, you did not mention the “Team” it takes for the athletes to meet / exceed these new expectations – The Coach / Researchers who delve deeply into the mysteries of phenomenal micro-universe of human anatomy and physiology, the Sports/Exercise Physiologist, Nutritionist, Chiropractors, Acupuncturist who are combining to create more functionally sound and sustainable athletes … excluding those who resort to the unspeakable. Athing Mu aside – Paris promises to be evolutionary!
This is why I posed the question rather than suggesting an answer. Thanks for the addition.
Toni