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When athletes attain the level of fitness and skill necessary to contend for gold, little stuff does indeed matter. Yes their ability utterly overwhelms any advantage a few fins might make, but since their skill levels are comparable the playing field is level in that regard.
If you look at the times, you can clearly see the impetus for protesting the helmet.
Amy won every heat of the 4-heat event. She won by .3 seconds or more each time (except the last heat which was very close). That's 0.5% or more of each 53-54 second total run time. 2nd through 5th places tended to be hundredths of seconds apart, not tenths.
I also doubt that the helmet made the difference, but if I was an opposing coach I would most certainly have protested.
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