SYDNEY, Australia, June 23. SWIMMING Australia Limited is disappointed by FINA's decision to approve more than 150 swimsuits that were originally banned, or considered in need of modifications, at a swimsuit approval committee meeting in Lausanne in May.
The FINA decision to re-instate suits that were originally banned or classified as in need of modification revolves around proving beyond reasonable doubt that they trap air and therefore assist with buoyancy.
Head Coach at Swimming Australia, Alan Thompson, who was also a member of the swimsuit approval committee that met in Switzerland in May and again last Thursday, says the decision is disappointing and a step back from what was first announced a month ago.
"It's disappointing because I felt we had made considerable progress on this issue when we first met in May and we were looking to move forward and get back to talking about athletes and not equipment," said Thompson.
"In the last three weeks we've had a number of meets in Europe and the US and everyone has been talking about swimming again, but now everyone is talking about swimsuits and taking the focus of what is really important in our sport, and that's athletic performance."
The announcement now sees more than 300 suits approved for the FINA World Championships in Rome.
"Ordinarily swimmers are asked to nominate exactly what type of suit they will be competing in – two weeks after selection on a national team," said Thompson.
"Obviously this decision means that athletes and their coaches will now need to work out if they want to resubmit or not."
"I think the Speedo LZR is a great swimsuit and people like Libby (Trickett) and Eamon (Sullivan) have been swimming in them in the last few weeks and posting world-class times."
"Some athletes will be comfortable with their current choice of suit, while others may consider a change."
To promote a level playing field in Rome, FINA has stated in their announcement that all manufacturers need to make all suits available ahead off the World Championships in July.
Despite the reversal on suit approvals, it would appear that Eamon Sullivan can still stake claim to both the men's 50m and 100m freestyle world records.
In a parallel announcement overnight FINA has stated that Frederick Bousquet's 50m freestyle time of 20.94 is yet to be ratified as a world record as they are still awaiting doping control results, meaning Sullivan's mark of 21.28 still stands.
Things are clearer however for the 100m freestyle with Alain Bernard's time of 46.94 not ratified as a world record due to the fact that he was wearing a non-approved suit at the time, Sullivan's 47.05 is still the world record time for the event.
Subsequently, the 200m backstroke time of 1:52.86 swam by Japan's Ryosuke Irie in Canberra last month also failed to be approved as a world record due to the fact that Ryosuke was swimming in a non-approved suit at the time.
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June 23, 2009 seems like we have two NGB's stepping in to protect their investment. Submitted by: cgkkpk
June 23, 2009 Agreed.
Where was this feigned caring for the course of the sport in early 2008???
No these concerned statements now coming out of USA Swimming and Swimming Australia are much too little and much too late as both federations now find themselves having their national teams tied into a now inferior suit (the LZR).
While the back pockets stuffed with Speedo cash (or swimwear), the front exterior of these organizations for months went silent and would not take a vocal stand as the world leaders they are supposed to be.
Now there is concern for the sport? Now there is worry about our direction? Where was this in early 2008 in "official statements" (we all know some were shouting behind the scenes in both organizations but were warned not to be heard 'or else' -- kudos to them).
Seems like the worry is that either both feds are stuck in an inferior suit or that their best athletes now have to jump ship from their swimwear sponsor just in case in Rome.
No, there were no towering voices coming out of these organizations back in February and March of 2008 to say "STOP".
So to try an issue these statements now is a day late and a dollar short.
Heads of Swimming Australia and USA Swimming must stand with FINA in the absence of leadership in our sport on this one.
Submitted by: rcoach
June 23, 2009 It's funny how there has been no opinion from USA Swimming all along. The most important swimming federation has not shown an ounce of leadership on the suit issue. Wouldn't want to upset Speedo, would we! Submitted by: butterfrog
June 23, 2009 rcoach -- You said it perfectly. Submitted by: halfbreed
June 23, 2009 What a load of nonsense. The way Alan Thompson tells it, the whole suit controversy was over and done with, problem solved, ancient history, back to "the swimmers". Then FINA had to go and ruin everything by digging into the cellar and dredging this whole thing up again. Do these people actually believe their own BS? If there's any threat to the integrity of the sport, it's clowns like this.
USA Swimming is defending a lawsuit, so that may have an affect on what they say or can say at this point, but they are no better.
Submitted by: fluidg
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