Eighteen world records tumbled at the world short-course championships in Manchester but the dizzying action gave only limited insight into what to expect at August's Olympics beyond another record glut.
Fine champions such as Kirsty Coventry and Ryan Lochte gave a vivid demonstration of talents which will illuminate the Olympics in Beijing's "Water Cube".
But many of their elite fellow swimmers, including Michael Phelps, Libby Trickett (nee Lenton) and Laure Manaudou, were far away working on their preparations for Beijing or gearing up for national Olympic trials.
The frenetic action in the 25-meter short-course tank, with the emphasis on explosive turning power, is also very different from the demands of the Olympic-sized 50-meter long-course pool.
The five-day championships offered plenty of excitement and a deluge of world records in a year which has been awash with new standards set, for the most part, in a controversial new bodysuit. All 18 Manchester records fell to swimmers wearing the Speedo LZR Racer.
Thirty-nine world records have been blown away since mid-February and 18 of 19 new long-course marks plus 18 of 20 short-course records have featured the suit.
Other swimwear manufacturers, contending that the suit had properties infringing the sport's rules, had talks at the weekend with swimming's world governing body FINA to clarify what is allowed and FINA said all suits it had approved, which includes the LZR Racer, complied with its specifications.
Lochte and Coventry led the record spree, each claiming three individual world marks and Lochte adding another in the US 4x100 freestyle relay.
Lochte broke the 200 individual medley world record and twice lowered the time for the non-Olympic 100 IM at a meet in which he swam a multitude of events. He bagged gold in the 100, 200 and 400 medley and 4x100 freestyle relay and silver in the 200 backstroke and 4x100 medley relay
"Breaking records is a big confidence boost, especially at the point where I'm at in my training right now," Lochte, world long-course 200 backstroke champion and world silver medalist behind Phelps in the 200 and 400 IM, said.
Coventry, the Olympic 200 backstroke champion, was similarly prolific. She claimed gold in the 100 and 200 backstroke and 200 and 400 IM and bronze in the 100 medley and set world records in the 200 and 400 medley and 200 backstroke.
"I was really always surprised (by my performances). I've not swum short-course meters in four years," the Texas-based Zimbabwean told reporters.
Marleen Veldhuis also excelled, winning four golds in the 50 and 100 freestyle and Dutch 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays and breaking records in the 50 and the two relays.
(Agencies April 15, 2008)