Sports: Fair Pools & Dark Tracks

[Ramseth]

For those who have been following the Olympics, I believe that you can't help but notice that the swimming pools are dominated by athletes of fairer complexion, whereas the running tracks are dominated by athletes of darker complexion.

I've heard a theory before, that darker skin pigment causes the person to sink faster in water, therefore even if this person can swim, more effort is required to stay afloat, and thus resulting in slowing down. On land, the darker skin pigment causes the person to absorb heat more confortably, and thus resulting in higher speed and stamina.