Guest editorial by John Craig
PHOENIX, Arizona, August 12. NOW that Rome is behind us, a quick perusal of the long course vs. short course records indicates that a number of the latter are quite vulnerable. This has been proven already by the new short course records set this past week -- and the World Cup season is still looming. Given that there is only a limited time left to take advantage of the artificial advantage proffered by the polyurethane suits, this should be an especially intense fall season.
A few of the short course records are on a par with the long course records. A case in point would be Amaury Leveaux's 100 free record of 44.94. In sprint freestyle, an extra turn seems to be worth roughly .7 of a second, which means that even with the two extra turns Leveaux's short course record may even be better than Cielo's long course 46.91. (Remember, Popov held both 100 records for a long time with a 46.74 and 48.21.) This past weekend, Roland Schoeman went a 20.30 for the scm 50, which seems pretty close to Bousquet's 20.94.
Biedermann's short course standard of 1:40.83 for the 200 free now looks slow next to his long course standard of 1:42.00. Even if you conservatively estimate an extra flip turn for freestyle as being worth only .5 of a second, Biedermann could still conceivably be the first man to go under 1:40 short course. (Thorpe's best 200s were 1:41.1 and 1:44.0, which would indicate he gained roughly .7 per turn, although he once said that he thought his short course record the better swim.)
The men's backstroke spreads are 1.17 seconds for the 50, 2.74 for the 100, and 4.08 for the 200. Those scm records may fall by the end of the year as well, but none look particularly soft, even though an extra backstroke turn is worth more than an extra freestyle turn (because you're gaining comparatively more on the pushoff and the dolphin kicks since the stroke itself is slower).
The men's scm breaststroke look quite fast now that Cameron van der Burgh has reset his own 50 and 100 this past weekend. The spreads between the men's sprint breast records are 1.24 for the 50 and 2.19 for the 100, which translates to approximately 1.1 seconds per turn, which sounds about right. (If anything, I'd say the scm records are now better than the lcm records.) Christian Sprenger just went a 2:01.98 a few days ago in Australia, making it a clean sweep for the scm breast records this past weekend. The spread between his scm and lcm records is now 5.33 seconds (I'd give his scm record the edge.) Ed Moses's previous 200 scm record of 2:02.92, set in old-fashioned jammers, says to me that Moses was ahead of his time back in 2004. (It also says he was a better short course swimmer than long.)
The men's fly spreads are .25 for the 50, .75 in the 100, and .48 in the 200. One would think the advantage per fly turn is roughly the same as breaststroke, close to a second. (On the one hand, the advantage of the pushoff for fly is less since that stroke is faster, but on the other you do get more dolphin kicks). So all three fly records look quite soft. The latter two may be apples to oranges, however, since Phelps has never bothered with the World Cup circuit or, for that matter, to compete scm in any setting. And given that Bowman has said that this will be Phelps's hardest training year before the Olympics, it's doubtful that he will be peaking for any scm meets any time soon. (Cavic may take up the slack in the 100, but expect the 200 records to remain out of sync.)
The men's IM spreads are 2.54 in the 200, and 4.51 in the 400. The men's 200 will probably fall this year. Given that the lcm 400 IM is another Phelps record, that's another apples to oranges situation. Lochte, Cseh, and Clary are all capable of breaking the 3:59.33 scm record currently held by Cseh, but they would have to be at their best to do it.
For the women, the sprint free records look a little soft. The spreads are 23.73 to 23.25, and 52.07 to 51.01. If Steffen decides to swim a 100 scm in a serious way, she ought to be able to Hydrofoil her way under 51 seconds. The 200 spread is 1.13 (Pellegrini vs. herself) and in the 400, 4.23 (Pellegrini vs. Jackson, after this weekend). Pellegrini should get both if her attention isn't too distracted by the Italian media – which it may well be, judging from the look of things in Rome two weeks ago.
The women's backstroke spreads are .83 for the 50, 1.97 for the 100, and 3.90 for the 200 (both Coventry's). The scm records are all breakable, with the 50 being softest. Look for Spofforth, who set her WR of 58.12 in the lcm 100 in a LZR, to take a shot at both the 100 and 200 records.
The women's breaststroke spreads are .22 for the 50 (both Hardy's, after this weekend), .73 in the 100, and 3.42 in the 200 (both recent records by Pierse). The sprint scm breaststroke records should see large drops by December. (I'm not sure what the status of Hardy's new lcm records are given her suspension, but have used her recent times for the above comparisons.)
The women's fly spreads are .08 in the 50, .32 in the 100, and .29 in the 200. These are way, way out of whack, and all the short course records should see significant drops this year.
In the women's IMs, the spreads are .02 in the 200 (!), and 4.39 in the 400. Both scm IM's are obviously out of line as well, especially the 200 after Kukors' ridiculous swim in Rome.
Given that the next four and a half months are last call for the tech suits, we may see some swimmers who normally don't even compete on the World Cup circuit try for some scm records.
The madness is not over yet. (This writer is wholeheartedly for the ban on the new suits, but acknowledges that next year, even though it will come as a relief, will also seem awfully anticlimactic to swimming fans.)
John Craig set a WR in the men's 55-59 200 scm butterfly of 2:19.72 this past March. That record has been made to look embarrassingly soft by Brad Horner, who this past weekend set the lcm version of the 200 fly record in the same age group with a 2:18.97.
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August 12, 2009 "This writer is wholeheartedly for the ban on the new suits, but acknowledges that next year, even though it will come as a relief, will also seem awfully anticlimactic to swimming fans"
Am I missing something here? McCaffrey and Busch also seemed to talk as if the records would stand. I thought FINA would create two record lists, one reverting back to 2007 times and the other regarded as a mistake in history. Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
August 12, 2009 Lets say USA Swimming bans the hi tech suits on Oct. 1......What will the USA Jr. National Team wear when they go to swim in the FINA World Cup Meets in Stckholm and Berlin in mid November? If they wear the suits they're pushing the world to swim in, the Europeans will kick their butts all over the pool because they will still be in their hi tech suits. Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 12, 2009 Ok,what will the other USA swimmers wear at the FINA SCM World Cup Meets this Fall when the Europeans are planning to be in their hi tech suits? Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 12, 2009 FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup 2009 Meet Schedule
- Durban (RSA)
16 – 17 October 2009
- Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
23 – 25 October 2009
- Moscow (RUS)
6 – 7 November 2009
- Stockholm (SWE)
10 – 11 November 2009
- Berlin (GER)
14 – 15 November 2009
- Singapore (SIN)
21 – 22 November 2009
What is USA Swimming going to do at their Sept 1 meeting? Ban the suits in the USA and allow the International swimmers to use the hi tech suits for the World Cup Meets? If the Europeans can go to January 1, USA Swimming can do the same or will they just screw everyone trying to get rid of the hi tech suits here in the USA.
Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 12, 2009 While watching the Rome World Championships, Bob Bowman made out that Paul Biedermann (Ger) was a nobody when he beat Phelps in the 200Free. He made out to the World, Biedermann only won because of the suit. He nor the media mentioned that he was the SCM World Record holder in the 200Free(?) In fact, I feel Phelps would still have lost even in an X-Glide. Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 13, 2009 I'm not sure what FINA is going to do with the record book. My guess is that they'll just let the current records stand. It doesn't seem fair, but if they start putting asterisks, how would they deal with the fact that, for instance, Ian Thorpe wore a full bodysuit, wrists to ankles, whereas Kieren Perkins just wore briefs?
As far as USA Swimming ruling on the new suits, I haven't heard anything about that either. My guess is they'll just go along with the 1/1/10 date FINA has set, otherwise they'd just be putting their own swimmers at a disadvantage. The high school federation had to institute their ban earlier because of the staggered nature of h.s. swimming seasons around the country.
John Craig Submitted by: halfbreed
August 13, 2009 "Further good news: the FINA swimming technical committee will consider the issue of drawing a line either side of all world records set in 2008 and 2009 under conditions that will no longer apply. No records will be removed or dishonoured. Swimmers set their marks in legal conditions. But from January 1, 2010, a line will be drawn and conditions will be radically different for most athletes.
Cornel Marculescu, director of FINA, said of the suggestion that a line be drawn in the record book: "I see no reason why not." "
http://swimnews.com/News/view/7159
I don't know if they made a final decision yet, but why in the world would we keep a record book with 195 world records set in 18 months? It's obvious that had nothing to do with the sport we saw before.
Halfbreed, using Thorpe's bodysuit as an argument is questionable at best, since he already broke Perkins' record by a whopping 2 secs at Pan Pacs '99... in a brief. He only went a second faster at the Olympics a year later in the bodysuit and 1.5 secs faster ever in his career. To compare that to the onslaught of 195 world records in 18 months is a no-go Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
August 13, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnz08P6sQEQ
"This is absolutely sport at its best!!"
Now, it's like... wow, another world record, whoopty-doo, haven't we seen those before...? Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
August 13, 2009 JakedBadForYou --
I agree, the difference between a brief and Thorpe's bodysuit was less than the difference between that bodysuit and a 2009 model polyurethane suit. But still, there was a difference, otherwise swimmers from 2000-2007 would not have bothered with the various types of bodysuits they wore. I'm glad FINA is going back to jammers, but the issue of what to do with the record book is still a tricky one that doesn't have a simple, clean solution. Since the Thorpe example doesn't fly, I'll give you another example: when Michael Klim went a 100 free in 48.18 leading off the Australian relay at the 200 Olympics, he wore a full bodysuit and broke the previous record of 48.2 by Popov, who'd worn only briefs. Should Klim's record have had an asterisk attached? My point is, now that the Pandora's box of tech suits has already been opened, there's not going to be a solution to the record book that's going to satisfy everyone. Submitted by: halfbreed
August 13, 2009 I totally agree with you... As a purist, I must believe fullbody Fastskins carried a significant advantage over briefs. Maybe going back to a 2007 world record list is only getting the job half done, but it's way better than nothing. Until they ban the jammers too, the legskins and bodysuits world records of 1992 - 2007 may be unfair, but the world of swimming has moved on technically so much, that the only records that would be hard to break anyway would be the legendary ones that survived until Feb. 2008... One example would Ian Crocker's 50.40 from '05. He could quite possibly go faster than 51.8 of Klim, unless we believe the legskin he wore carried a greater advantage. Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
August 13, 2009 SCM records have always been up for grabs because the US has contended so few Nat level meets where the swimmers can really rest for them. It's time to bust out National level meets with 50s of strokes, the 100 IM, and maybe we should throw in some 4 x 50 relays for a good time by all! Submitted by: deepender
August 13, 2009 Quote from John's article: "This writer is wholeheartedly for the ban on the new suits, but acknowledges that next year, even though it will come as a relief, will also seem awfully anticlimactic to swimming fans."
Yes, some will go through the inevitable withdrawal symptoms of having their addiction removed, their crutch for false assisted times taken away. Ironically they may well feel cheated. However, if they are true competitors they will not miss a stroke and rise to the challenge, if not they will fade away.
Personally I can't wait for the ban to take effect I don't think I will experience any anti climax.
True swimming fans will say good riddance.
Great euphoria? Quite possibly, we will have to wait and see.
Submitted by: scotswim
August 15, 2009 Scotswim, if one couldn't win in a hi tech suit they will not win in the low tech suit...Its all "relative". Submitted by: speedboat
August 17, 2009 Hi Speedboat,
As I mentioned in another response:
If one wins in a hi tech suit it DOESN'T necessarily mean they will win in a "low tech" suit.
Remove the suits and the doubt and then we will know.
Fairest for all! Submitted by: scotswim
August 17, 2009 Scotswim, I'll enjoy watching Phelps lose. Submitted by: speedboat
August 17, 2009 speedboat, did Phelps lose in 2007 before the suits came around? Did Phelps lose the 200 free this summer? You're hopeless Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
August 17, 2009 Speedboat:
I will enjoy watching all whoever wins! Submitted by: scotswim
August 19, 2009 Liz, Dagny and Franklin are good. But I can name 12 that will argue the point plus they'll make their mark as well. USA Swimming shouldn't concentrate on three individuals, but the group. Some of the best Juniors took the summer off. I'll bet they'll be refreshed for the Fall Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 19, 2009 JakedBadForYou, Paul Biedermann holds the SCM World Record. When he beat Phelps this summer, the media and USA coaches made it sound like Paul was a no body. I'll bet if Phelps swim the at the SCM Worlds, he'll get beat by Paul again.. Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 19, 2009 when paul biedermann broke the 200 scm world record , he swam in the old arena textile suit ; just because he is europeen he is a nobody for the us media and the us coaches! Submitted by: maly
August 20, 2009 I agreed "maly". And Phelps & Bowman are overated acting "crybadies" when Paul kicked their butt. Submitted by: speedboat
August 21, 2009 No doubt they're crybabies, not used to losing. But keep in mind, Phelps pre-2008 technology = 1.43.8... Biedermann = 1.46
Until the suits are off, we can't compare. No doubt Biedermann will be a player all the way to 2012. His 1.40 SCM in textile showed us he is for real, but then again, Phelps has never swum a fully shaved and tapered SCM 200 free. Indy 2004 doesn't count ;) Submitted by: JakedBadForYou
August 23, 2009 I read an article the other day that Bowman consider putting Phelps into briefs at Rome. He sounded so arrogant. Its not Team USA. To Bowman, its "Team Bowman". Submitted by: speedboat
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