Note that, while there is a common perception among athletes that the middle lanes are advantageous (or at the least, preferable), there is not backed up by any

Note that, while there is a common perception among athletes that the middle lanes are advantageous (or at the least, preferable), there is not backed up by any scientific evidence: http://sports.stackexchange.com/questions/1326/in-swimming-is-there-a-competitive-advantage-to-being-in-one-lane-or-another http://sports.stackexchange.com/questions/1326/in-swimming-i... Of course, the prestige conferred by the established allocation system should also be considered as a factor explaining preferences as well...