ROME, Italy, July 28. AFTER Michael Phelps was upset by Paul Biedermann in the men's 200 free at the FINA World Championships, his coach Bob Bowman stated that Phelps is done competing internationally until the high tech swimsuit ban is implemented according to The Associated Press.
"Probably expect Michael not to swim until they are implemented," Bowman told the AP. "I'm done with this. It has to be implemented immediately. The sport is in shambles right now and they better do something or they're going to lose their guy who fills these seats. That would be my recommendation to him, to not swim internationally — he might swim locally. But who knows. The mess needs to be stopped right now. This can't go on any further."
Phelps supported Bowman's statement.
"Bob chooses where I swim," Phelps told the AP. "He chooses the meets I'm going to swim in. He chooses what's right for me and what's right for my training. I have one meet that I'm looking forward to the most and that's in three years [at the London Olympics]."
Full text of AP article.
Search For More News About: Michael Phelps
Reaction Time Comments
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions
of Swimming World Magazine or SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
Reaction Time is provided as a service to our readers.
July 28, 2009 So, is he not going to swim the rest of this meet? And, is he going to renounce his WR in the 100 fly since Ian Crocker only swam in 2005 era jammers while Michael wore the full LZR suit to go faster than Ian Crocker did? Submitted by: CTL
July 28, 2009 So based on the calendar, he won't swim any of the Open water series of events or the World Cup Circuit?? Shocking news. Submitted by: Coach D
July 28, 2009 Pan Pacs are next year, in California I believe. Submitted by: Cobber
July 28, 2009 @Coach D : There are World shortcourse champs in december and as FINA is postponing the change (already they say May 2010), it could get to the point where even the summer of 2010 sees the suits still being legal..
Go Bob Bowmann and stick to it. FINA : jan 1st 2010 is the ONLY way to go (or earlier would be nice too) Submitted by: mdewildt
July 28, 2009 All of which are beyond when the needed ban is planned to be implemented,it's not news, its great marketing but not news. By the way, the 17 year old Russian was only wearing legs so in my book, had the best swim of the event Submitted by: Coach D
July 28, 2009 it is speedo who asked fina to postpone the date of the new rule so mike and bob should tell his sponsor to stop messing up with fina. Submitted by: maly
July 28, 2009 So long as they are banned before next year's Pan Pacs, Commonwealth Games, and Euros. Submitted by: Cobber
July 28, 2009 so what about the 4x200 relay and 4x100 medley? I think this move can be interpreted as being a poor sport on bowmans part:
would he have done this if biedermann didn't beat him?
honestly this is as bad if not worse than the french team not attending the required press conference following the 4x100 free relay. Submitted by: xxgeffxx
July 28, 2009 The article's title (and first paragraph) really make it sound like he's not swimming anymore at THIS meet as well. That's certainly not the case, is it?? Submitted by: Hodori88
July 28, 2009 Are you freaking kidding me Michael Phelps? you are part of the problem - if you have a problem with FINA's ruling than why do you still wear these types of suits and get paid millions to wear them? Swimming is becoming a joke and it's at the hands of one Michael Phelps. He can't be happy for a guy breaking his world record so he cries like a little school girl. I'm appalled that anyone would even take this dude serious especially after the pot shots. Hmm...was it not the suits that helped Phelps achieve all those Olympic medals/world records? sounds fishy now that someone is on his toes and actually beat his ass! get a life and deal with what FINA has ruled. Submitted by:
July 28, 2009 I don't think Bob means that he is pulling Michael immediately. I think he means after this meet, at least I would think so. Michael was very gracious after his loss, and it would be poor form on Bob's part to pull Michael now, and would it would hurt the US Team. Look, Michael is probably going to lose the race and the world record in the 100m Butterfly too, so we all better expect it. And that buffoon Cavic is still complaining about that race in Beijing. Yeah, like if Michael only had the one event like Cavic he wouldn't have totally destroyed him in that final. Everybody who knows swimming knows that Michael (and Ian) are far better swimmers than Paul Biedermann. When talking about Biedermann's victories, everybody who knows swimming will always say "yes, but......." There are no "yes, buts" about Michael's and Ian's swims. Michael will prove this when he hammers Biedermann at the next World Championships. Submitted by: Cobber
July 28, 2009 Why does Phelps wear the suit then? Because if he doesn't he will probably get crushed.
Is Phelps part of the problem? Yes but he doesn't have a choice. He can't just not wear the suits and finish out of the medals, which probably would have happened today. I don't like saying that because I like Phelps but that is just the facts of what is going on.
Bowman is not making that big of a statement unless Phelps doesn't show up for the 200 fly final tomorrow. Now that would send some shockwaves! Submitted by: SWIMSID
July 28, 2009 I read elsewhere that Phelps will definitely finish this meet before the boycott starts. Submitted by: liquidassets
July 28, 2009 Nice to see Bowman's true colours show through.
Sore loser at his finest!
He knew full well heading into these championships that there were better suits than the LZR that were out there. They are legal and certainly available to Phelps. He chose to live and die by his sponsor, and now that someone finally kicked his a$$, Phelps and especially Bowman are crying foul. What a load of cr@p.
Don't hear Bowman complaining of Kukors(Jaked) stunning improvement in the 200 IM. Nor of any other Americans that were wearing Jakeds and Arenas and breaking records. He's starting to sound like CL at Swimnews ("news"- that's funny, hahaha, pure selfish opinionated blogging is what that is!)
Lord, like Bowman is also very biased towards his own country folk(British) regardless of what they wear. Treats them rather tamely compared to the malice and amazing lack of respect he dishes out to everyone else that dares use approved suits.
Seems everyone who is wearing an LZR and is on the losing end is biased against anyone wearing one of the non LZR suits. Didn't hear any complaining from these same people last year when the LZR had a HUGE advantage over all other suits.
Don't get me wrong, Phelps is an amazing swimmer, without a doubt the best ever, but it would have been fantastic to see what he could do in an X-glide or a Jaked. Too bad his wallet controls his decisions. Submitted by: fish1
July 28, 2009 And the sports public humiliation and disintegration continues.... Submitted by: fluidg
July 28, 2009 I think that it is loyalty to his sponsor that has kept Phelps in the LZR, and I'm proud of him for it. remenber, the $1m bonus he got from Speedo last year when to charity. And regardless, these other suits are illegal, whether or not they are allowed this year. If they were truly legal they wouldn't be getting banned. That's logical. I just think that FINA didn't want to have to go to court against these swimsuit companies this year. I say again, if Biedermann is so good, where has he been the last few years? He is after all only a year younger than Michael. No suit, no Biedermann, no gold medal, no world record. Submitted by: Cobber
July 28, 2009 Right on fluidg.
This suit issue could be going on a lot longer thanks to Speedo's interference, lobbying and meddling and bullying over the past 4 days.
So there is a decent chance that you might not see him until late next year (remember....Speedo wants full legs AND for the new rules not to be implemented until SEPTEMBER 2010!). April and May has been thrown out there but Speedo is still pushing/throwing a tantrum for September.
Isn't it sad the situation we are in.
If MP really wanted to make a statement he would publicly drop Speedo. But unfortunately he is probably so tied into them, he has no choice.
Lots of folks are angry at him right now and there is justification for that in light of his loss in the 200. Maybe this should have been done after a race victory. Then maybe everyone would see it in a different light.
Regardless of if you think he and Bob are being crybabies or not, this really needs to happen and it needs to be someone like MP to do it.
Leveaux (sp?--sorry) the French sprinter threatened it a month ago and no one even batted an eyelid because really across the world he is not marquee.
But it had to be a Phelps, or a Steph Rice or a Kristy Coventry (notice I picked all Speedo heavily backed athletes or countries).
Speedo has to understand what it is doing to the sport right now. FINA has to understand that this must stop and it can't bend to Speedo any longer.
Was the timing wrong in relation to the loss in the 200? Probably.
Are the coaches, national team directors and athletes who jumped to promote this situation 2 years ago to blame along with manufacturers? Absolutely.
Is the idea behind this now sound? Yes.
Hey, maybe we could consider a novel idea. Maybe MP woke up one morning lately and realized what was going on was wrong. Maybe he also realized he was part of the problem. And maybe now he is doing something to try and push people to fix it, both in his own sponsorship camp and with FINA.
Maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he has earned it for what he has given to the sport over the years.
The timing IS wrong...but the message IS right.
Submitted by: rcoach
July 28, 2009 I've never heard Cavic complain about the Olympics, he's always acted quite graciously in everything I've seen and heard. Submitted by: flutterby
July 28, 2009 Where were Bowman's harsh words for FINA when Margaret Hoelzer didn't make the team? Or Megan Jendrick? Or Kara Lynn Joyce? All Speedo athletes screwed by the suits IMO and it took until HIS swimmer won a *** damn SILVER (oh god forbid) for him to even wink at the situation. Screw Bowman Submitted by: jeffyfit
July 28, 2009 Wait, didn't phelps say not too long ago that we need to stop focusing on the suits, and more on the accomplishment? Way to be a doucher, phelps. Submitted by: XXXXXXXJOSH
July 28, 2009 I say the guys should go back to wearing budgie smugglers :) Submitted by: Cobber
July 28, 2009 Matt Biondi lycra briefs for men and Janet Evans spaghetti straps on the shoulders for girls!! Let's bring back Seoul '88. Heck, Dara Torres will feel right at home! She was already a two-time Olympian by then! Submitted by: Hodori88
July 28, 2009 Bob sounds like a "cry baby" and poor loser...Phelps could have gone with the Jaked01 or Arena. His deceision, but it showed what the "poly" suits are capable of. I'd ban the "poly" suits and keep the LZR as a standard design for the manufactures to fabicate their suits. The WR set with the "poly" will probably stand for the next 100 years with the suits design going back to 1996. FINA kind of like the United Nations, unable to make a deceision....
Submitted by: speedboat
July 28, 2009 Yes, speedboat, he COULD have gone with the Jaked or Arena. But he didn't because he didn't want to participate in this circus. Yeah sure, he could've put on a Jaked and maybe gone 1:40.5 or something retarded in the 200 free, but what would that accomplish? There's a lot more at stake in this sport than this one race.
Look Bowman wants to erase all the post Feb '08 WRs and I'm all for that. YES this include a lot of Phelps' records too. And it's for the best, I think we should go back to that world. Submitted by: Sphere
July 28, 2009 I agree that the LZR is about as far as we need to go, but I'd be happy to go back to the Aquablade and it's equivalents as the leading edge. Really, we wouldn't be in this situation if FINA started looking at the suits that were coming into fashion in 2000. Up until then you didn't really hear of any complaints from swimmers or fans. The Aquablade certainly didn't cause the same controversy. But they should asterisk any new world records set in one of these suits. It's the only fair way. It should be just like in Track and Field when an "A" is listed next to a mark set at altitude. That way swimmers will still have marks to aim for that won't be out of reach. I think the fact that Biedermann beat Phelps and broke world records set by Phelps and Thorpe is what has really brought how ridiculous these suits are into the spotlight. Biedermann may be good, but he is no Phelps or Thorpe. Never has been, never will be. The suit controversy is quite big news in Australia, even appearing on the front page of a Sydney newspaper. Former champions like Kieren Perkins, Murray Rose, and Dawn Fraser have spoken out very strongly against the suits with comments like "why don't we just give them flippers" and "technological doping". There wasn't this furore over the Aquablade, that's for sure! Submitted by: Cobber
July 28, 2009 I don't think it is sour grapes on Bowman's part. The situation now does require that someone with influence - and with a spine - call out FINA for being so irresponsible.
Biedermann is a middling swimmer at the world class level, nothing more...so much so that Phelps struggled to place his name or remember he was in the 200 meter race at the Olympics last year.
Bowman is not singing praises for the US swimmers breaking records in these new wetsuits either. Every record at this meet is tainted.
As for FINA, it seemed they came into this meet contented that all is well. But now, before the meet is half ended, they feel a need to alter their position and finally (and correctly) ban these suits? But wait, this urgent decision is not in effect for the better part of the next year! This is to give the manufacturers a head start to start making...jammers and womens strap suits. Huh? The companies have been making them for decades and can cut them out of compliant textiles. Gee, does someone suspect that Speedo or Arena or another are going to miss the memo about using nylons again?
The urgency to make a decision, and then pick a long and purely arbitrary timeframe to implement it is a joke. Thanks to FINA, the WWF is in better shape than the sport of swimming.
In the short run and in the long run this is better for the athletes. No more TYR or Nike athletes feeling they need politic to wear a non-sponsored suit while risking their sponsor livelihoods. It's also better for the companies too. Does Speedo really make money selling $500 suits that can be worn a couple times -- or baked in the oven to wear 10 times?!? No. They give more of these away at top level meets and to sponsored athletes than they will ever sell. There are only a handful of Division 1 programs in the country that would humor spending that kind of money on these suits. The money on the apparel side of this sport is still $20 - $50 suits, tshirts, and other training gear items.
The only company with a brain in hindsight was Nike. They just left the sport when it appeared that millions might need to be invested to outfit half a dozen sponsored athletes in $500 suits the recreational public will never have an interest in purchasing. It will be interesting to see them return next year. The sport could use some adult supervision or at least the example of a company that gets it.
And lastly, I'd hate to be Biedermann standing on the blocks next summer naked down to a textile jammer next to Phelps. Submitted by: jim
July 29, 2009 Bowman's reaction is too late. If he had say that two months ago, the FINA would have banned this new suits. I think that in te USA you don't have realized the effect of the polyurethane. Submitted by: frenchswim
July 29, 2009 Jim, first of off you are wrong that the money is not coming from these suits. The banning of them is gonna cost speedo et all millions.
Second, and this appliesto everyone. Beidermenn went 1:44.8 in a LZR earlier this year, in reested, unshaved. He probably still would have beaten Phelps if they were on a level playing field.
Third, Bowman and Phelps look like huge whiners here. Where was the outrage when Phelps was killing people with an obviously superior suit? Oh, well everyone else had access to a LzR you say. Well phelps has access to an x glide. His choice, his loss, but don't whine about it after the fact. Submitted by: swimfan007
July 29, 2009 I like this Bowman this comment from a cnnsi.com article:
"We've lost all the history of the sport," Bowman said. "Does a 10-year-old boy in Baltimore want to break Paul Biedermann's record? Is that going to make him join swimming?"
I bet it'll make some 10-year-old-boy in Berlin want to join swimming. I mean really...xenophobic much, Bob? Submitted by: imfstrthnu
July 29, 2009 Well swimfan007, the problem is Phelps was killing people long before the LZR. He first broke the 200 free WR in an FS Pro in 2007. And no one was even close to him. So he would not have gone the times in Beijing without the LZR, but still would have won his events.
The problem is not that Phelps lost. He wasn't in top shape, things like this can happen. The problem is that Biedermann dropped 4 seconds over 200 m-s in just 1 year. And this isn't an age grouper that just mastered the flip turn or had a growth spurt. He didn't drop from 2:10 to 2:06. Don't tell me that is normal. You really have to wonder what Thorpe, Hackett, Phelps were doing wrong to not make this big improvements or why they wasted time and needed 4-5 years for it. As rcoach said before the timing might be wrong, but the message is right. Submitted by: akosf82
July 29, 2009 Since Biedermann went 1:42 and dropped 2 seconds off his best LZR time in the 200Free, why didn't all the other swimmers do as well? But Bob is still a whiner, crybaby, tittybaby...bad responds and timing on his part. FINA should keep the suits and see if Bob keeps Phelps out of swimming. The swimming world doesn't evolve around him or any one swimmer. Growup Bob... Submitted by: speedboat
July 29, 2009 On the point regarding the profitability of these suits: do Speedo, et al, break out what share of revenues come from these suits? What I do see is more of these suits being supplied to sponsored athletes and national teams. Last year Speedo rented out LZRs to swimmers at the Grand Prix events. I simply don't see these suits at the youth level, at least not here in the US.
It just does not appear they are actually selling enough units to cover the research, promotion and freebies.But I could be way off.
Biedermann's not being picked on because he's not American. All the records are tainted, Kukors' times are equally astounding given the measure of improvement which is obvioulsy attributed to the suits. Submitted by: jim
July 29, 2009 On the point regarding the profitability of these suits: do Speedo, et al, break out what share of revenues come from these suits? What I do see is more of these suits being supplied to sponsored athletes and national teams. Last year Speedo rented out LZRs to swimmers at the Grand Prix events. I simply don't see these suits at the youth level, at least not here in the US.
It just does not appear they are actually selling enough units to cover the research, promotion and freebies.But I could be way off.
Biedermann's not being picked on because he's not American. All the records are tainted, Kukors' times are equally astounding given the measure of improvement which is obvioulsy attributed to the suits. Submitted by: jim
July 29, 2009 I think that akosf82 is completely right when it comes to Biedermann, and is more or less what I have been saying. Without that suit he would not have beaten Phelps in the 200m Free, and I think that Phelps' performance in the 200m Fly pretty much proves that. If Biedermann really was this good, he would have been good before the suits. He wasn't. Michael was. I still think that this whole thing should have nipped in the bud in 2000. If it had been none of us swim fans would be having this conversation now. Submitted by: Cobber
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions
of Swimming World Magazine or SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
Reaction Time is provided as a service to our readers.
|
Subscribe Now!
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
