During an interview with BBC commentator Ruth Irvine, Mark Foster addressed why the Tokyo Olympic swimming times are being aired at 3am UK time. The former competitive swimmer went on to address the impact the change in times has had, as he explained the reason behind it was so that people in America could watch it.
Ruth began the interview by quizzing Mark on why Brits were setting their alarm clocks for the early hours of the morning so they could watch the swimming.
“It’s a bit topsy-turvy the swimming,” Ruth began. “And I’m sure people who have set their alarm clocks are realising that the finals are in the UK morning at about 3am.
“And obviously the heats are in the evenings. It’s not the first time, in Beijing, we did this as well?”
“It basically got changed because American TV changed it because of a certain man called Michael Phelps,” Mark replied.
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“Michael Phelps was going to go for eight golds in Beijing, but of course because of the time between Beijing and America, they wanted it to be in the evening in America.
“So, they changed everything around to make the finals in the morning, which is what they have done again here.
“Swimming is very big in the States and they’re very successful.”
Ruth continued: “I think the funny thing about that is, adjusting the clock and I know a lot of competitors have been trying to stage their best races in the morning.”
He continued: “Just so your body knows ‘Okay, this is when I go fast’.
“So, when it actually comes to the Championships, your body goes ‘Oh, okay I’m awake now I can do it’.
“Historically what we do is, in the mornings we have the heats. In the evenings we have the finals so you kind of get used to the way of doing things.
“The evenings are when your body is more awake. As you say there, some people are more morning people than evening people.”