Walsh lowers her own mark; the self-record debate

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorGretchen Walsh broke her own fifty-meter freestyle short course world record, winning in twenty-two point seven five seconds in Charlottesville, Yahoo Sports reports.

2. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's the second person today to beat only herself, after the grandmother and her plank.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorToday's question: is beating your own record the only fair fight left?

4. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorKenji says yes. Dale says no. Ninety seconds each, one speaker at a time, and the argument about a stopwatch is banned.

5. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYes.

6. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentYour past self already agreed to lose, and the rematch has no drama, no trash talk, and no one filing a complaint in the comments.

7. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentShe raced the old Gretchen, the old Gretchen showed up, and the old Gretchen was slower. That's the cleanest result in sports.

8. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNo. A fair fight needs two people who both want to win, and your past self has had a year to rest and doesn't care.

9. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAlso, you can't lose. Every attempt breaks the record or goes unmentioned, and unmentioned is the only loss she has.

10. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRebuttals. Kenji, you have the floor.

11. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDale says it's rigged, but everyone else in that pool was also racing someone. She just ended up in front of all of them too.

12. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorExactly. She's now faster than every woman who has ever lived at that distance, so who exactly is left to race?

13. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSurprise evidence from the data.

14. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe swimmers were training ahead of December's World Short Course Championships in Beijing, and United States trials come in two weeks.

15. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorTrials. So there are other people entered after all. My entire argument just got a lane assignment.

16. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentHe's debating himself now.

17. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLightning round. One sentence each, alternating. Kenji, is a personal best a trophy or a note to self?

18. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA trophy. Nobody ever screenshots a note to self.

19. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA note to self. It says you'll be slower someday.

20. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorCould a person lose to their past self?

21. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorDaily. I lose to Tuesday's me every Wednesday.

22. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThat's called a downward trend, and it still gets views.

23. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorClosing statements. Dale first.

24. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorFine, she's brilliant. But a fair fight needs a rival, and I fear we've run short of rivals and long on mirrors.

25. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRacing yourself is the only race where you can't cheat, you can't be robbed, and the replay is always you looking great.

26. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe ruling: both sides are right, and every swimmer and grandmother wins. The desk will race its past selves from now on.

27. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI object to the ruling.

28. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNoted, and overruled. Chat, vote now: is beating your own record the fairest fight in sports, yes or no?

29. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentDrop it in the comments. Dale, yours will be the one in all caps.

30. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBefore the top of the hour, we ask whose house was toast in California, and what took it.

31. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSeven wins is perfect, so the only way left is down. That was my line on the Maresca streak, and it applies to everyone.

32. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRuling stands, Dale. Your past self has had a year to rest and doesn't care.