Swimming’s Revolutionary Video Review System A SMART Decision Says Australia’s Rio Olympian Josh Beaver
Melbourne’s Rio Olympic backstroker and Commonwealth Games medallist Josh Beaver, now one Swimming Victoria’s top coaches. has given his seal of approval to the introduction of a a revolutionary Swimming Video Review Technology system – a world first innovation on trial in Australia.
Swimming Victoria in collaboration with British-based Hawk-Eye Innovations aims to go live with the nine-camera system in August this year.
It will be technology that has already been welcomed by Australian officials, coaches and swimmers and will be given a huge tick of approval around the swimming world.
Hawk-Eye – Sony’s wholly owned subsidiary, has a proven track record as a tech leader in sports officiating and tracking technologies – the video umpiring system introduced into tennis, cricket and football.
And swimming will now be a major beneficiary of the Synchronised Multi Angle Replay Technology (SMART) after years of controversial decisions with official video proof, for so long, barred from the protest room.
SMART MOVER…AND SHAKER: Swimming Victoria’s CEO Jason Hellwig. Photo Courtesy: Swimming Victoria.
Swimming Victoria CEO Jason Hellwig revealed today that it would not only make officiating “fairer, better and more efficient” but it would also provide services for swimmers and coaches “that we haven’t been able to do before hand.”
“It’s going to be amazing and will revolutionise the sport. We are all really looking forward to it; exciting times,” said Hellwig.
Swimming’s version of Hawk-Eye’s latest technology underwent a five-day trial at the recent 2022 Victorian Age Long Course Championships staged at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre (MSAC) finishing last Sunday.
And it received Beaver’s green light of approval.
“I’ve been involved in this sport for 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Beaver, now head coach of Mentone Swimming and Bayside Aquatic.
“It is something that will certainly move the sport forward.
EXCITING WAY FORWARD: Josh Beaver says the technology will move the sporty forward. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
“Our officials have been such an important part of our sport for a long time but I’m sure they will all agree it will help them to do their job better.”
The Victorian Age meet was the beginning of a Proof of Concept (PoC) between Swimming Victoria and Hawk-Eye for the 2022 Swimming season with the aim to improve the efficiency and automation of officiating and timing in swimming – a factor which is certainly long overdue.
By introducing Hawk-Eye’s latest Synchronised Multi Angle Replay Technology (SMART) Video Review system to the sport, Swimming Victoria says it is establishing a new methodology for assuring fairer competition.
Swimming Victoria says the aim of the partnership is to improve the efficiency and automation of officiating and timing in swimming and they are already in communication with Swimming Australia and FINA to “sooner rather than later” introduce the technology to the world.
They are confident the SMART system will be well established before the 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2032 Olympics a concept that would be welcomed with open arms by Mike Unger, FINA’s equally innovative new Director of Sports Competition –a major development in finally putting swimming in the technological age.
And how does the SMART system work?
GOOD TIMING: The Revolutionary Swimming Video Review Technology system on trial at MSAC. Photo Courtesy: Swimming Victoria.
The system in place at MSAC is made up of a permanent nine-camera system (four under water and five above water), all feeding back to the onsite review booth.
The review booth has a four-monitor setup, two of which were used during the Victorian Age Meet to replay and select angles for analysis, whilst the other two displayed ‘always live’ angles of the pool to avoid missing any action.
The system aims to firstly improve the efficiency and automation of the inspector of turns whilst also reducing the need for timekeepers.
Swimming Victoria says that currently, certain events require around 50 officials for an event to take place.
Hellwig said his organisation was thrilled to be partnering with Hawk-Eye Innovations to bring what he described as “world leading sports technology” to swimming, saying offline trials would be in-place until August when Swimming Victoria aims to implement the system live.
“Hawk-Eye’s innovations in officiating and video review systems will change the way we run our competitions and we are very excited to be at the forefront of it,” said Hellwig.
“We look forward to working with Hawk-Eye to enhance the future of swimming in Victoria and beyond.”
MODERN TECHNOLOGY: The new world of swimming officials. Photo Courtesy: Swimming Victoria.
Ben Crossing, Hawk-Eye’s Chief Operating Officer said his company remains invested in transforming the sports industry with creative and innovative technologies, and is excited to work with Swimming Victoria and to make major strides in the world of aquatics.
“We are always excited at Hawk-Eye to push the boundaries of sports technology and officiating,” said Crossing.
“Working with Swimming Victoria to implement our new Swimming Video Review system is another great example of that, and we are excited to be partnering with them to revolutionise the way swimming is officiated.”