Pendulum Swings on the Great Suit Debate -- September 2, 2009
PHOENIX, Arizona, September 2. IN A Voice for the Sport in the September issue of Swimming World Magazine, publisher Brent Rutemiller writes about the Great Suit Debate.
No issue has polarized the swimming community more than the advancement in swimsuit technology and its introduction into the competition environment.
Records have been broken at every level of the sport, leaving any relative connection to the sport's rich history in its wake. Some argue that our history is today, not yesterday. Others argue the opposite.
Meanwhile, the "Great Suit Debate" rages on, forcing the pendulum on history's clock to move back and forth. To the far right are those bent on turning back the hands. To the far left, times have never been better.
The debate has never been more evident and vocal than the comments posted on SwimmingWorld.com's Reaction Time feature that allows for public discussion. Here are just a few of the hundreds of comments posted so far:
* "The new suits go beyond a swimmer's natural potential, erases bad habits and mistakes in less talented swimmers, and I think the 195 world records in 18 months is argument enough. THIS IS NOT PROGRESS." —JakedBadForYou
* "Show me a running shoe from 1959, and I will show you a Spira or Nike LunarGlide+ (that) returns energy back to the runner. Show me a tennis racket from 1959 and compare them to Serena Williams' racket, which is wider, lighter and has changed tennis into an athlete's game rather than a stylists' game. Tour de France circa 1959 versus Lance Armstrong's time trial bike 2009, and note the angles, the composite materials and the aerodynamic hubs. The lowering of the pitchers mound in baseball in 1969 so more home runs could be hit. Sports move into the future, and so should swimming. - Watch our briefs and jammers once again become the object of ridicule and derision. —Groovydoo
* "We had a young girl come look at our program. She did not seem concerned that she was the only black child in the whole facility. I was thrilled to have some diversity on the team. Her parents found out about competitive suit costs and said, ‘I didn't know this was such an elitist sport.' The child is now a volleyball player." —NP
* "Well, I wore briefs at my nationals and got slaughtered." —medina
We encourage everyone to voice his or her opinions as the sport navigates into a new era. Is there a place for suit technology in Masters and open water? Should a professional league be started that welcomes new innovative products that expand the overall aquatic industry? Should FINA, NCAA, high school, YMCA, club and country club programs remain true to their history? Visit SwimmingWorld.com and join the debate.
Swimming World is proud of its ability to allow readers to voice their opinion in public forums. We actively monitor comments, allowing for intellectual discussion that is meaningful and not mean-spirited. We believe that freedom of speech is a fundamental principle of a democratic and free society and the core value of any legitimate media outlet.
In the coming months, Swimming World will be encouraging those who post comments to use their real names. This may be against conventional Internet practices, but is congruent with standard newspaper editorial policy dating back to Benjamin Franklin. Although this new policy may discourage some participants, we believe it will foster more thoughtful and civil comments in the long run.
The policy will be simple: if you can't put your name to it, then don't post it.
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Video Preview of September Issue
September 2009 Issue Contents of The September issue: 7 ARRIVADERCI, SPEEDSUITS! by Jason Marsteller
As swimmers said goodbye to Rome and the 13th FINA World Championships, they also bid farewell to the new speedsuits that helped contribute to an unprecedented 43 world records!
13 DOWN TO THE WIRE by Jason Marsteller
The girls from The Baylor School (Tenn.) won Swimming World Magazine's national high school championship by just four points over Carmel (Ind.).
18 A NEW POWER by Dan Albano
Swimming in the shadow of perennial powerhouse Bellarmine Prep, Saratoga High School of northern California showed that quality can beat depth by winning its first-ever Swimming World Magazine boys' national high school championship.
24 CELEBRATING 50+ YEARS IN AQUATICS: 1989-92 by Jeff Commings
As we celebrate 50+ years in aquatics, Swimming World Magazine will be taking a trip through history, highlighting some of the top moments of the magazine's existence.
26 THEN AND NOW by Jeff Commings
Speed, endurance and versatility—that is what it takes to win the individual medley. And in their respective day, both Tamas Darnyi and Michael Phelps dominated the 200 and 400 events.
DEPARTMENTS:
6 A VOICE for the SPORT
39 FOR THE RECORD
43 NISCA ALL-AMERICANS
51 CALENDAR
54 PARTING SHOT
In the Swimming Technique portion of the magazine you will find the following: 33 Q&A WITH COACH RYAN MALLAM by Michael J. Stott
35 HOW THEY TRAIN: Craig Jordens by Michael J. Stott
In the SWIM portion of the magazine you will find the following: 28 THE POOL'S EDGE: Rev-up Your Heart! by Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen
The goal of the REV-UP set is to transition your body—and mind— from going easy to getting ready to swim fast.
30 WORKOUT CARD: Training with Academy Bullet Masters
by Chris Colburn
In the Junior Swimmer portion of the magazine you will find the following: 37 SPEEDO AMERICAN RELAY by Judy Jacob
38 TYR AGE GROUP SWIMMER OF THE MONTH: Jackson DeFore
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.
September 2, 2009 Hey, my poll is still open on the right hand side of my blog: swimviking.blogspot.com. let FINA know how you really feel.
and also... do I really have to use my real name? When they found out Daredevil's secret identity the Kingpin just about ruined his life. And look what happened to poor Peter Parker? When he "came out" they had to start the whole Spiderman series again from scratch.
I don't know if I am ready for this new move. :) Submitted by: The Screaming Viking!
September 2, 2009 I applaud the move away from anonymous comments. There is currently way too much opportunity for abuse, and frequently insufficient ability to assess the level of credibility or sincerity or sarcasm of anonymous postings. There are no consequences for blatant errors or misleading infomation, or libel and slander for that matter.
I hope that other open debates and discussions will adopt this policy.
In the meantime, I will (attempt to) disregard public comments made under the cloak of anonymity. Submitted by: SteveRuiter
September 2, 2009 "Remain(ing) true to their history" is another way of saying "living in the past." Swimming needs to move forward as a sport. The recent limelight that we've enjoyed has been in part a result of new technology.
To add to the second comment in the article, consider gymnastics. Athletes now enjoy mats that offer far more spring than a few decades ago so that they can accomplish tricks that have more of a "wow" factor. The suits were our "wow" factor. Are they too expensive? Yes. Do they need to be regulated? Of course. To use a cliche, though, we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Finally, I believe that Ben Franklin was published under a number of pseudonyms, which was quite the trend of his time so as to avoid punishment from the British.
But I will sign my name because it IS good and responsible journalism!
Jodi Guro
Swim Mom/English Teacher
Submitted by: wilson
September 3, 2009 Wilson is correct on all points...! Submitted by: blue.water
September 3, 2009 I was going through the 2004 Olympic coverage and it seem 75% of the swimmer were wearing bodysuit. Why ban them after being in the water for 9 years? FINA's ban went to far in the wrong direction. The first ruling in May 2009 on the 50% permeability by Jan 1, 2010 was a good ruling in the right direction. It meant the polyureathne suits would go. The suit did create a level field. Everyone skin is different and produces a different drag. By having an equal friction restriction, the swimmer with the best stroke and power still has a chance to win. Now I'd say the field isn't level with more skin showing. Submitted by: blue.water
September 3, 2009 I think FINA* is going to regret their decision. Swimmers all over the country are going to have swim bags full of suits they can no longer use.
*(and by FINA, I mean Bowman, Speedo, USA Swimming, and Schubert)
Josh Shell.
College Swimmer / Individual who would blaze it up with Phelps any day. Submitted by: XXXXXXXJOSH
September 3, 2009 Regarding the use of real names:
While it could add credibility and/or a better read on the sincerity or sarcasm of a posting, I personally feel it would prevent more notable people from posting their opinions. This would greatly hurt the quality of discussion.
For instance, maybe there is someone on these boards that is currently competing at the most elite level and thus in the know about many of these issues, more so than age-group swim parents (no offense intended, your input is highly appreciated). Some of these elite persons might not be willing to discuss the issues openly because of the potential whiplash (maybe from a sponsor or fellow competitor/teammate).
John Doe
Pseudonym User / Not an English teacher Submitted by: InTheKnow
September 3, 2009 John,
I sense a bit of angst on your part toward my profession and swim mom status. It's okay. Teachers and moms are quite used to being both discounted and taken for granted.
You're right. I'm an age group swim mom. I'm also a University of Texas swim mom. My daughter Jess was captain of a junior national team, too, so I could actually have a little insight, here, having survived an encounter with a tapered swimmer whose LZR ripped just minutes before her final, tapered swim.
Beyond that, people should use their real names, John, when responding. This will add strengh and credibility to their arguments, ESPECIALLY if they have prominent standing in the swim community. This is the way true debate is waged.
That's your free English lesson for today!
Jodi Guro
English teacher/swim mom
Submitted by: wilson
September 3, 2009 Mrs. Guro,
I truly didn't mean any disrespect or to put forth any angst. I know plenty of swim parents of accomplished swimmers who have a lot of insight by being there and watching/helping their swimmers.
To continue my argument for anonymity, say, during this past year, a swimmer sponsored by Jaked, being paid good money by them and wearing their suits for the known advantage it gave, wanted to speak out against the speedsuits* but was fearful of a Jaked representative discovering the comments, fearful possibly because the swimmer had been told that their contract was dependent on being supportive of the company. I would rather this swimmer post anonymously than not at all.
Some may say this swimmer "sold themselves" since they didn't like the suit but accepted money to compete in it. I would say this swimmer made a smart decision, since they disliked all speedsuits* but felt the need to wear one to compete at the highest level.
John
* Speedsuit includes any suit with polyurethane. Submitted by: InTheKnow
September 4, 2009 I don't believe that the analogy to better running shoes and tennis racquets etc is a fair one.
These suits have changed the sport in a fundamental way. No longer is the human body swimming though the water but these suits change it to adapting to the best way to skim over the water due to the added buoyancy. FINA should be able to stay within their own rules and not allow ANY device that changes the athlete's buoyancy. This is a pretty good line in the sand. Let's keep it SWIMMING and not SKIMMING.
David Abineri Submitted by: dabineri
September 6, 2009 dabineri / guro, what is your take on banning the bodysuits? These suits have been in use for the better part of 9 years. By banning these (I'm not talking about the LZR or any other polyurethane suit)suits is basically saying everything that swimmers were doing in the last 9 years really don't count. It was like a "bad dream". And now swimmers that had used them are referred to as cheats and never really work to achieve those times. Banning everything from the time the LZR was introduced into the swimming world till now is more reasonable than telling a generation of swimmers that they was wrong. And yet, USA Swimming was handing out the bodysuits to their Junior and National team members without objections year after year. And, I have a lot in common with Ms.Guro. I respect her for listing her name. But with me, I'll get my head chopped off from the swimming establishment because I'm in a position that goes against the "good old boy" system that runs USA Swimming. If your not with them, you're out! Ms. Guro can understand that from a teacher's position. "Either play ball or we'll run you out"! The only way for a bodysuit to return is for the swimmer themselves petition for it. However, few swimmers have a say in anything inside USA Swimming. It would be interesting to see how the swimmers in the age group from 15 to 24 years old would vote. Like 90% of the swimmers I work with would vote against the Jaked01, Arena X-Glide, B-70 and similar suits. Where as 80% would vote for the LZR, FSPro, FSII bodysuits. Most amazingly, most girls don't like getting up on the starting blocks in a one piece suit and bending over for the start. The bodysuit provided a coverage for some body parts.
So, what is you take on the bodysuits? Submitted by: blue.water
September 6, 2009 IMHO, they clearly went too far - year or two with tv meets showing that yellow world record line way out in front of the best swimmers will bring FINA around. Submitted by: natacao
September 6, 2009 I'll bet we'll never see that line again if USA Swimming & Fina have a say in it. My prediction next year, "zero" World Records for 2010, 2011, 2012, etc..... and a lot of frustrated swimmers. I'm sure we'll hear from Bowman & Phelps on this issue since they seem to influence the right people. I predict they will try and strike all the WR off the books. Submitted by: RedBone
September 6, 2009 Rowdy Ganies quote back in Rome:
Three-time Olympic Champion Rowdy Gaines is concerned that yesterday's announcement will be detrimental to the sport. "I think the bodysuit is great for the sport. It gets the average person to talk about our sport and it gets people involved who maybe would not have done so. People love to see fast swimming."
Vote for Bodysuits!
Submitted by: speedboat
September 8, 2009 I support the banning of the high tech suits. If for no reason other than the cost. The cost of the new high tech suits kept the playing field from being level. If you could not afford one of the high tech suits, or were not sponsored by one of those companies you were out of luck.
The sport should be about the swimmer, not their apparel. The rules state, if it aides boyancy it is illegal. The high tech suits should never have been allowed in the first place. Submitted by: John Turner
September 9, 2009 Another interesting debate which I find myself at odds with. I see no benefit being gained by the loss of anonymity. I have read many untruths written by named sources. My prerogative is to judge those views as they appear; true, false or indifferent, whether written by either named or unnamed sources.
I am reminded that the 'Father of American literature' utilized such a device.
Eric Arthur Blair
(AKA George Orwell Dolphin) Submitted by: Godolphin
September 16, 2009 I'm not seeing any bodysuit arguments pro or con that weren't already considered before the vote in Rome.
Right now, the issue of anonymity and disclosure is more interesting to me. I wouldn't be at all surprised, for example, that some people have posted comments in various of these threads advocating one side or another using different handles. But cyberspace is difficult to police -- which is one reason why, I suppose, the editors are encouraging real names instead of requiring them.
As for people whose identity is known, I do have a follow-up comment regarding Rowdy's vocal support of bodysuits during (at least) the first half of the World Championships swimming coverage.
Rowdy really should have made it clear every time he said so that he had a relationship with blueseventy. That sponsorship was announced with some fanfare this past May when Rowdy was back competing in Masters meets.
I note that he toned down his comments towards the end of the meet -- which, of course, was after the vote took place. At any rate, if the sponsorship continues his public credibility increasingly will be on the line if he doesn't simultaneously acknowledge his ties with a company that stands to benefit from his advocacy.
- Charlie Carson Submitted by: Charlie
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.
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