December 14, 2008 Companies like TYR and others obviously weren't going to lie down and die when Speedo's LZR took the world by storm last year. With the exception of Nike and Adidas, they've been busy with their own innovative research and development. They've surely equaled and then improved on the LZR's features, all perfectly legal...I wonder if Speedo is working on the "LZR 2" in the lab right now if they don't foresee a detente in the current suit war. They're out to make money, not protect the integrity of competitive swimming! We have organizations like FINA to maintain this integrity and give suit manufacturers appropriate guidance.
Also, if customized suits are the next innovation (perhaps already a reality?) in which suits are made to enhance strengths and minimize weaknesses of the individual athlete, then swimming will go the way of many sports, and winning comes down to those who have the financial resources to have these suits made for them. Even now, the cost of suits is so outrageous, yet the price will be paid if it means faster times.
Leading up to 2012 in London, there will obviously be great rivalry among the countries in Europe, with the Olympics in their backyard. Federations and their suit manufacturers will feel the pressure to stop at nothing to win, as long as everything is considered "legal". The European championships and stories about suit use are a testament to that reality.
Let's stop the suit war now, and go back to briefs and tanks, before there is anymore damage done. This reminds me of the madness of the nuclear proliferation days between the USSR and the US and calls for disarmament! It can and must happen soon that swimmers re-focus on what competitive swimming is all about--racing fair and square and making it to the top of the medal stand, with no aides but effective training, natural physical gifts, hard work and desire.
At this point, world records are a dime a dozen and mean nothing, so starting in 2009, it's a good time to turn back the clock and allow swimmers to focus on racing each other, in bare bones fashion. Few records will be set for a very long time but medals will count for much more when there's no question about who won the race--the suit or the swimmer!
The intent of my comments is not to take away recognition from the athletes who have achieved these 2008 world records and amazing times. They have worked hard, are at the top of their games, and deserve accolades. But based on research, the new suits do enhance performance differently in each athlete, and therefore do enter the equation when considering the merits of performance when wearing the 2008 suits of any brand.
2008 will be seen as an incredible year of fast swimming, but it will be interesting to see how history paints 2008 after all is said and done in the coming months of deliberation over suit technology. May common sense and wisdom prevail in determining the direction of the sport starting in 2009.
Thanks, Swimming World, for allowing me to express my opinion in this forum.
Submitted by:
happycamper
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