How does the swimmers get their number lanes in the olympics?

Question

it seems the more eligible ones for a gold, those tend to always the get middle lanes which is the more favorable lane cause you get to see all the swimmers left/right of you. is it just a coincidence? who decides on which lanes go to which swimmer

Answer 1

Well, for the finals, it's based on your time on the semi finals, and so on.  

So at the semi-finals, and then the winners of all of them (the fastest), get the middle lanes.  The faster you are, the closer to the middle you'll be.  

And it just goes on til the end lanes.  The more you try in the previous race, the better it is for you in the very end, when it counts.    

Answer 2

Basically, the two swimmers with the fastest "seed time" get the middle two lanes (lanes 4 and 5) and it works outward. After 4 and 5 would be 3 and 6, then 2 and 7, then 1 and 8. The middle lanes are usually who is expected to win.  No one in particular picks the lanes, its based all of previous times.  I think its based off your fastest time, but that i'm not completely positive on...