The 1960 Rome Olympics were marred by controversy when Australian swimmer John Devitt and American Lance Larson both finished the 100-meter freestyle in a dead-heat 55.2 seconds. Despite Larson being 0.1 seconds quicker, a head judge ruled that the times were the same, awarding the gold medal to Devitt. This rare tie was caused by human error in timing, and it would eventually lead to the development of electronic touch boards by Omega in 1968.
Today, Omega’s Swiss Timing department, led by Alain Zobrist, is working to minimize the role of human error in their technology. One recent innovation is the electronic starting pistol, which is now connected to speakers behind each athlete in staggered-lane races, ensuring a fair start. Omega’s new Scan-o-Vision system can capture up to 40,000 digital images per second, allowing judges to make quick decisions in photo finish races.
While Omega’s logo has been featured on timing devices at every Olympics since 1932, Swiss Timing has evolved far beyond simply recording start and finish times. “We tell the story of the race, not just the result,” says Zobrist. To achieve this, the department uses advanced technology, such as motion sensors on athletes’ clothing, introduced in 2018. These sensors track athletes’ movements between start and finish, providing a more comprehensive understanding of their performance. With Paris 2024 approaching, Swiss Timing is set to add more complexity to its story-telling with the latest technological innovations.
