Eva Fabian Posts Open Letter About Wetsuit Use at FINA Open Water World Cup

Jul 11, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Eva Fabian of the United States celebrates with her gold medal following the open water womenÍs 10km competition during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ontario Place West Channel. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Tom Szczerbowski/USA Today Sports Images

On the eve of the FINA Open Water World Cup stop in Setubal, Portugal, American Eva Fabian posted an open letter to her Facebook page regarding the potential use of wetsuits in the 10k race.

Fabian wrote about some of the core issues related to the new FINA regulations regarding wetsuits. Specifically, Fabian is concerned that wetsuits would be allowed or mandated if only one spot on the race course was cold enough while other spots of water plus the air temperature are far too high for wetsuit use.

She also worries that making wetsuits optional would give athletes that choose to wear them a huge advantage over athletes that might opt out for fear of overheating.

Read the full text of Fabian’s full letter below.

An Open letter to FINA World Cup Race Officials who asked for athlete feedback regarding the use of wetsuits for FINA 10K open water races:

The Technical meeting for the FINA World Cup Race in Portugal today indicated that FINA is unprepared to make a decision about how to use the temperature information obtained at a venue in conjunction with their new Wetsuit rule.

1) For example, when there are different temperatures at different places in the course, do they use an average temperature, or select the lowest? This scenario was presented by coaches to officials, who said the lowest temperature is the deciding value. The coaches then stated their concern about a situation where the majority of the course was too warm to use wetsuits, but one spot might be cooler. Coaches and athletes were in shock to hear that in the hypothetical scenario with 6 temperatures taken on different locations in the course, if 5 measurements were 28C but 1 measurement (the lowest) was 18C, then FINA would adhere to the lowest temperature and declare a wetsuit mandatory race.

2) Coaches asked to see this ruling, and were told that the rule didn’t exist, but that nevertheless the official was making the decision to use this format for determining whether it was a wetsuit race or not.

3) The coaches unanimously agreed that using the average temperature would be the most safe method of determining the temperature of the course. FINA resisted and declared that 6 temperatures were to be taken, and the lowest used as the determining factor. For example, the majority of the swim tomorrow will take place under the hot sun with an air temperature of 28-30C, and will be swum in water that will likely be above the optional wetsuit temperature range (at or above 20 deg C) with only a very small segment within the optional wetsuit range.

4) The coaches believed overheating was the most overriding health concern for the athletes. The only known incident in the sport came from overheating, not cool water. In 2010, American athlete Fran Crippen died during a FINA world cup circuit race in the UAE, a race that was held under extreme heat conditions. It is demeaning and insulting that FINA is ignoring the concerns of coaches and athletes pertaining to overheating yet again.

5) One coach said it was disgusting that FINA would ask athletes and coaches to choose between athlete safety and professional success, as a wetsuit “option” isn’t an option if you want to be competitive. As FINA officials stated in the meeting, wetsuits are a major buoyancy advantage and swimmers simply swam faster in them.

6) There is another aspect of FINA races potentially involving wetsuits that has not been well thought out: pre-race numbering. Athletes and coaches were informed that the wetsuit needed to be worn when athletes were receiving numbers on their body prior to the race. This is a potentially dangerous plan in that it requires athletes to put on and wear their wetsuits for approximately 45 minutes to one hour before the race in the 28-30C weather. There will be no air conditioned tents available. This could contribute to a potential situation with overheating before the athletes even begin the competition.

7) Air temperature is also an important factor in athlete safety during races. Wearing a full body covering suit made of neoprene, especially in 30C weather, is a safety concern. FINA did not agree to take the air temperature into consideration even though it can contribute to overheating in a 2 hour marathon event.

8) FINA stated that this race was to be an “experiment” with how wetsuits affect the physiology and performance of athletes when the water temperature is borderline too warm for wetsuits (or above the wetsuit range in 5 out of 6 temperature measurements) and the air temperature is hot. “Experimenting” on professional athletes during important races in their careers, putting their lives in danger… that isn’t what sports are about. That isn’t a standard to aspire to.

I agree and am glad that FINA is seeking feedback from athletes and coaches about competitions involving wetsuits. However, after the technical meeting today, it is apparent that there are a lot of untested variables that potentially impact athlete safety that were not considered when making this new wetsuit rule. I hope FINA will address these concerns and put athlete safety first.

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Shanna Reid

6 years ago

A wet suit convo with Fina. LS sport is not the only sport to be having these talks

IronMike

6 years ago

The time is nigh for all the professional swimmers to band together and refuse to swim. It is time for FINA to go away, at least for open water.

Robin Walker

6 years ago

I definitely feel like athlete input is important here. They are truly the only people who know how swimming in different conditions will effect their bodies. I hate wetsuits. I personally would just sit out of a competition I deemed to be “too cold” for me if I felt I was unable to handle it. I understand I’m not a professional swimmer so I can make that call since I still have a job to go to every Monday morning. No sport, or living should put the worker at risk for death in a perfect world.

Karena Eriks

6 years ago

I appreciate, result in I found just what I was having a look for. You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye|

Bill Ezekiel

6 years ago

Someone could make a lot of money inventing a suit that has good thermal properties without providing a buoyancy advantage. Then the option of suit/no suit would make more sense.

Wet suits are very useful in ‘beginner’ open water races or triathlons as they keep the person afloat if they get into trouble and are easier to find/rescue.

Weather outside the water should also be taken into account as windchill or the heat of the sun can effect the body before you enter the water.