It helps a lot when you don't cherry-pick data that supports your pre-existing belief.

https://runninglevel.com/running-times/marathon-times

https://swimswam.com/comparing-mens-womens-records-in-swimmi...

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2052-1847-6-7

https://results.nyrr.org/event/M2025/overview (pick any year you like by changing the URL)

https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/about/past/2026/ (Same)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-46032-9?fromPaywa...

The overall story is one where the difference in performance decreases with distance, but is very real.