The Magic Surge^TM

The PowerStarts^TM Technique^TM lets the swimmer take advantage of physical principles that can only be achieved with sufficient height and velocity.

Notice how far behind the swimmer with the red cap is at the start!  She is still standing on the blocks while the two girls next to her are entering the water.  Yet with a powerful Magic Surge as a result of more height, she nearly catches up to her competitors with no additional energy expended.

Now imagine where she would have been if she had had as quick a reaction time as the others. She would be more than a full body length in the lead!