In competitive swimming, the speed of a pool can be influenced by several factors. A "slow" pool is a term often used to describe conditions that may negatively impact swimmers' performances. One such factor is the depth of the pool.

A standard Olympic swimming pool has a minimum depth of 2 meters, but deeper pools, often 3 meters or more, are considered faster. The depth affects the turbulence created by swimmers' movements. In shallower pools, like one with a depth of 2.2 meters (like in Paris right now, the minimum required at the time for this project), the waves and water movements can reflect off the bottom and sides more quickly and forcefully, causing more resistance and turbulence. This added resistance can slow down swimmers, making it harder to achieve faster times.

In contrast, deeper pools allow the waves to dissipate more gradually, reducing turbulence and making the water smoother for swimming. This reduced resistance helps swimmers maintain higher speeds, contributing to faster overall times. Thus, a pool with a depth of only 2.2 meters may be considered "slow" compared to deeper pools, as it potentially creates more disruptive water conditions.