I watched the video; it is certainly a very fast lap, but I noticed right away that the clock stopped before the line. Strange indeed, but the studio crew could be understandably excited, and just jumped the gun on the finish line.
ukathleticscoach - Whether or not malmo is right in arguing everything, he is COMPLETELY right here. If you came into the argument now (just witnessing the video and subsequent argument), you would see how right malmo is in this case.
malmo - As I said, absolutely right in this case. It was not 53, 54, or 55 seconds on that last lap, and not even 56 flat. 56.9 - 57.1 or so is about the fastest I get on a watch.
For those saying that it is insignificant, and wonder why malmo spends so much time arguing his point, I say this - OF COURSE it matters! It matters A LOT! To argue that the last lap was 53.7 is an insult to anyone who has closed a race in 53.7! If indeed 56.9 is the fastest close in a women's distance race, it should be celebrated for what it IS!
If people want to argue what COULD HAVE BEEN (hypothetically with different pacing, weather conditions, etc), that is fine. But to continue to deny what ACTUALLY HAPPENED takes away from the sport.