Guest editorial by Chris DeSantis
ATLANTA, Georgia, August 25. I've been trying to think positive thoughts about the coming change with the speedsuit ban deadline fast approaching. A conflicted fan of bodysuits, I'm looking for angles to feel good about their impending death.
Months ago, when their demise was uncertain, my friend Garrett posited that the suits were actually hurting the marketing of the sport in a way that I hadn't thought of all. He argued that they were covering up a lot of beautiful bodies.
I didn't buy the argument. For all the near-nudity at meets, swimming has been overall a fairly prude sport. Amanda Beard posing for Playboy was an extreme exception and not a rule. I can remember back in 2000 seeing Lindsay Benko and Kaitlin Sandeno in Maxim. It was shocking to see any swimmers, male or female, pictured in any kind of sexually suggestive way.
I admit that this position is somewhat colored by my living in the United States. I was told that in the Rome subway terminals, huge ads were plastered with Italian male swimmers in nothing but their Dolce & Gabbana white underwear briefs. And of course, Federica Pellegrini has been photographed more than once almost entirely nude, albeit with some tasteful coverup from her arms. However, you have to take into account how much less sexual nudity is in that part of the world. Having straddled both continents with a European heritage, I find that more often than not nudity in Western Europe is less sexual and more "I didn't feel like wearing a top to the beach today."
Of course, if you really think skin can help the marketing of swimming internationally, you have to feel a little conflicted about the men's jammer. I mean, that's a lot of leg coverage.
I was a senior in high school when they were introduced, and fought them with every bone in my body. A full season of asking my freshman teammate if he had ridden his bike to practice and forgot to change couldn't break him of the habit.
In my first year out of college as a high school coach, I nearly caused a riot when I changed my team from jammers to briefs. Sadly, I may have to concede this battle, because in this case it appears that the jammer has been credited again and again for keeping young boys in the sport.
So will swimming capitalize on the return of skin? Well, if it means that there are more Pellegrinis and Beards and we can bring in a few more female (and male) fans with the men so exposed, I sincerely hope so.
Chris DeSantis enters his first season at Georgia Tech as an assistant coach after previously coaching at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Reaction Time Comments
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August 25, 2009 without a doubt the hottest swimmers in america: natalie coughlin, whitney myers, megan jendrick, katie hoff, caroline burckle. Submitted by: jeffyfit
August 26, 2009 With the boys back in small briefs, that should excite the girls Submitted by: TheBigSurf
August 26, 2009 "Covering up" bodies with skin-tight high-tech bodysuits makes them less sexy? Are you kidding me? Fashion is all about enhancing and transforming the human form, creating a "look", a fundamental form of self-expression. The mystery of clothing is far sexier than nudity. Even the most beautiful people look better in clothes—that's why they are models.
Take another look at the Worlds on Universal and tell me when swimming has been more beautiful or more visually appealing on every level. Why do you think the fashion industry exists? Submitted by: fluidg
August 29, 2009 This is going to be harsh but when it comes to hotness within the sport, I dare say it's slim pickings.
Also I remember the Black and White calendar they used to do here where they had Sydney and Athens Olympians (I think those were the two) posing nude. Brooke Hanson of course did it all, full frontal everything. And was the only one to do so. Egad.
Anyway, it's an inteeersting thing mentioned. When I clicked into the article I thought, "whaat?!' then you had a point. When LZRs came in I remember so many people around the time of the Olympics (the non-swimfan, the general public) complaining so much about how many guys were covered up.
The list starts and ends with Hugues Duboscq. That is all. Submitted by: Priyant
August 30, 2009 Hi Chris,
So now as well as being able to compare the times of previous swimmers will will also be able to compare the sex appeal in similar suits.
Fairness all round!
The benefits and of removing these suits is now becoming more and more apparent to all! Submitted by: scotswim
September 6, 2009 Talking about sex and sex appeal has no place on this site. Seem like Scotswim is excited to see the girls in an one piece suit. If he like skin, go to the beach and look at the girls in their tongs. Submitted by: speedboat
September 7, 2009 But did he step up on the blocks in a SPEEDO brief and do it? One would have hoped so after yesterdays comments Submitted by: Coach D
September 7, 2009 Oh please speedy, I think it's a great topic to talk about because alot of talked about the loss of sex appeal (particularly around Beijing) when LZR's came in. Great topic of conversation!
PS Hugues Duboscq. Seriously. Submitted by: Priyant
September 7, 2009 Speedboat: "Talking about sex and sex appeal has no place on this site."
Speedboat, for once I am inclined to agree with your comment, congratulations! Keep up the good work.
CU
Scott Submitted by: scotswim
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