Whatever the case, I love the new system (although I also wish we had a proper swimming skill that is seperate from Fitness.).
Thought I'd share some images, since i haven't seen a thread about it yet. Here are some low level swimmers:
https://66.media.tumblr.com/d16ad114b81315dbd4acfd447bae3165/tumblr_ptk2xpFRwE1t1fm14o1_540.jpg
https://66.media.tumblr.com/3fe9ef5f8d1a2d8fc4560a983e56d30c/tumblr_inline_ptk2qortd61sregb9_540.jpg
https://66.media.tumblr.com/ab6a620a2a15f26965366fb8fc90c8c6/tumblr_inline_ptk2z2eZuB1sregb9_540.jpg
The fitness 4 swimmer won, naturally, but of the three lesser swimmers the one with the measly 1 skill point beat the two who had swim 2.
And a showcase of the jump between Fitness 5 and 6:
https://66.media.tumblr.com/c81ed678acadf149bb91a4a864a3e8e0/tumblr_ptk35d0LOw1t1fm14o1_540.jpg
https://66.media.tumblr.com/e3d87fecd0381b03b155c22d7f8ced02/tumblr_ptk35d0LOw1t1fm14o2_540.jpg
On short distances there is no noticeable difference between the two Fitness 6 swimmers. But the longer they swim, the more Daniel falls back behind Gavin.