June 23, 2009 I think a lot of the commentators are missing the fact that there are two - at least - swimming worlds: World Championships, and the rest of the enormous swimming community. FINA does not have any real control over what USASwimming and the YMCA do in their age group meets, and to me the answer there is simple: navel to knees for guys, and neck (not covered, and no arms or shoulders) to pelvis for women. Within those small limits, who cares? That much material, no matter what it is, is not going to give anyone that much of an advantage, and age-group swimming won't be faced with the costs of trying to keep up with the world competition, or Formula I swimming.

For high level open meets, let FINA rule; Formula I does it. So long as all of the suits are available to everyone, let the swimmer choose their weapon. Does that change the face of world competition? No more than has happened over the last 3 or 4 years.

FINA's attempt at scientific differentiation doesn't impress me; Fastskin Pro legskins were not on the first approved list, although Pro bodysuits and jammers were, as were LZR legskins. How those could "pass" and the pro legskins not defies logic. I suspect swimsuit design is a lot like sailboat building; Hydrodynamics is hard enough, even with test tanks and wind tunnels, but how a boat will handle under various winds and diffferent sets of sail is never known until she's in the water. That's why designers are called navel architects, not engineers. It's not an exact science. Add the dynamics of the human body shape, musculature, and stroke differences into the mix, and any rational scientific analysis quickly is overwhelmed by the number of variables.

Sailing solves that by including one-class regattas, where everyone races the same boat, or "open" competitions where the length, beam, draft and special design (wings or not on the keel, for instance) are regulated, but within those parameters any (rich) competitor can design as they want.

Until the community can gain control of FINA for World competitions, let anything go; no fins, no paddles, no electric propulsion systems, but if you want to swim in a wetsuit, good luck. But for the vast majority of high school, NCAA, and beginning competitors, screw FINA. Set easy-to-regulate standards of coverage, and let the best swimmer touch first. They'll get to Formula One if they want; if not, they'll be a hell of a stock-car driver. And those that go to Formula One, can wear the swimsuit from hell five years from now.
Submitted by: njswimdad

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