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Just over 100 years ago, in 1908, the Olympic Games were held in London. They were held in London again in 1948, just after World War 2.

Here are the results from some men's track events:

1908

100 metres 10.8 secs

200 metres 22.6 secs

400 metres 50.0 secs

800 metres 112 secs

1500 metres 240 secs

1948

100 metres 10.3 secs

200 metres 21.1 secs

400 metres 46.2 secs

800 metres 109 secs

1500 metres 229 secs

 

The 2012 London Olympics were another 64 years later. Here are the men's track results:

2012

100 metres 9.6 secs

200 metres 19.3 secs

400 metres 43.9 secs

800 metres 101 secs

1500 metres 214 secs

 

How did the results differ?
Could you have predicted the 2012 results?

Perhaps more importantly, what's the reason for your answer?

 

Here are the women's swimming results from the 1948 Olympic Games and the 2012 Olympic Games:

1948

100 metres freestyle 66.3 secs

400 metres freestyle 318 secs

100 metres backstroke 74.4 secs

200 metres backstroke 177 secs

2012

100 metres freestyle 53 secs

400 metres freestyle 241 secs

100 metres backstroke 58.3 secs

200 metres backstroke 124 secs

 

How did these results differ?
Could you have predicted the results?

Can you use these results to predict what the women's swimming results will be in the next Olympic Games?

How accurate do you think your prediction is?