What Remains? A Look at the Lasting Supersuit Records; Which Will Go Next and Which are Untouchable

What Remains? A Look at the Lasting Supersuit Records; Which Will Go Next and Which are Untouchable

What’s left? What are the remains of the calamity that was the two-year stretch in 2008 and 2009 when ability, fine-tuned via dedicated training and coaching, ran into the buzzsaw that was technology? Of course, we are referencing the sport’s supersuit era, when polyurethane equipment shredded the record book – locally, nationally and internationally.

As a refresher, the introduction of rubberized equipment altered the landscape of the sport for a couple of years. The supersuits provided additional buoyancy to athletes, and enabled them to maintain energy and close faster than ever. More, not all swimmers benefited equally from a physical standpoint, and not all had equal access to the most-dominant suits.

With the World Championships recently concluded and the Commonwealth Games and European Championships still to come this summer, we figured we’d look at which global standards remain from that head-shaking era, one in which tech advances allowed German Paul Biedermann to destroy Michael Phelps in the 200-meter freestyle – a 1:42.00 effort doing the job.

Of the 40 standard long-course events in which world records are recorded, a quarter (10) have endured since the 2008-09 campaign. Eight of these records are on the men’s side, with just two among women. At the time the records were set, it wasn’t uncommon to hear this sentiment: “That record isn’t going anywhere for decades.” Indeed, there are a handful which still seem out of reach but seeing 75% go down has been a positive – evidence of skill being the primary focus.

Beyond the world records, it is also important to note what the supersuit days did to the sport’s historical rankings, the top-50 and top-100 lists that are meaningful. For instance, in the men’s 50 freestyle, 17 performances from the all-time top-50 list are from the supersuit era. Meanwhile, in the women’s 200 butterfly, 18 efforts in the all-time top 50 are from 2008 and 2009, including eight of the top-10.

Surely, the days of the late 2000s still have an impact on the history of the sport and it will take time for the black eye to disappear further. For now, here’s a glimpse of what is left over, along with a few notes pertaining to several of the records.

Still-Standing Men’s Supersuit Records

50 Freestyle: Cesar Cielo (Brazil) – 20.91
100 Freestyle: Cesar Cielo (Brazil) – 46.91
200 Freestyle: Paul Biedermann (Germany) – 1:42.00
400 Freestyle: Paul Biedermann (Germany) – 3:40.07
800 Freestyle: Zhang Lin (China) – 7:32.12
200 Backstroke: Aaron Peirsol (United States) – 1:51.92
400 Freestyle Relay: United States – 3:08.24
800 Freestyle Relay: United States – 6:58.55

Still-Standing Women’s Supersuit Records

200 Freestyle: Federica Pellegrini (Italy) – 1:52.98
200 Butterfly: Liu Zige (China) – 2:01.81

Record Which Will Last Longest (Men)

Look at Zhang Lin’s mark in the 800 freestyle. The Chinese star’s 7:32.12 is the equivalent of back-to-back 400 freestyles of 3:46.06. Yep, enough said.

Record Which Will Last Longest (Women)

When China’s Liu Zige clocked 2:01.81 for the 200 butterfly, it required a long blink. Since that performance was registered in October of 2009, the closest anyone has gotten to it is the 2:03.86 that Zhang Yufei produced to win Olympic gold at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Zhang’s swim was phenomenal, and yet it was more than two seconds off of Liu’s pace.

Record in Greatest Jeopardy (Men)

With Romanian teenager David Popovici having gone 47.13 in the 100 freestyle at the World Championships, and with Caeleb Dressel and Kyle Chalmers obviously still on the scene, Cesar Cielo’s mark of 46.91 is primed to go. Dressel has been sub-47 (46.96) during his career and Chalmers has been 47.08. No doubt this trio could push one another to better Cielo’s number.

Record in Greatest Jeopardy (Women)

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia

Because there are only two women’s records left from 2008-09, and Liu Zige’s 200 fly mark was chosen to last the longest, that leaves Federica Pellegrini’s global standard in the 200 freestyle as the lone option. Yet, it would be on the chopping block even if it had competition. Aussie sensation Ariarne Titmus already broke Katie Ledecky’s spectacular record in the 400 freestyle, so next up for Titmus is the 200 freestyle. She has been No. 2 in history at 1:53.09, so there isn’t much further to go.

A British Attack

Great Britain appears poised to take down the world record in the men’s 800 freestyle relay, as it was just .03 off at the Tokyo Olympics. The Brits have superb depth in the 200 freestyle and with lynchpins such as Tom Dean, Duncan Scott and James Guy in the arsenal, there is reason to believe the British will get this record.

The Last Solo Record of Michael Phelps

One individual world record remains in the possession of the greatest Olympian in history, Michael Phelps. The 28-time Olympic medalist still holds the global mark in the 400 individual medley, courtesy of his 4:03.84 outing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That swim jumpstarted Phelps’ march to eight gold medals and no one has gotten to within a second of it – until recently.

leon-marchand-400-im-2022-world-championships-budapest

Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

At last month’s World Championships in Budapest, French standout Leon Marchand was ahead of Phelps’ record pace into the closing freestyle leg and ultimately touched in the No. 2 time in history, a European record of 4:04.28. The link between Phelps and Marchand is Bob Bowman, who guided Phelps throughout his career and is now Marchand’s coach at Arizona State University.

World Champs vs. Records

To wrap up, here is a comparison of the existing (and enduring) supersuit world records versus what it took to capture the gold medal at the recent World Champs.

Men’s Events

50 Freestyle: 20.91 vs. 21.32
100 Freestyle: 46.91 vs. 47.58
200 Freestyle: 1:42.00 vs. 1:43.21
400 Freestyle: 3:40.07 vs. 3:41.22
800 Freestyle: 7:32.12 vs. 7:39.36
200 Backstroke: 1:51.92 vs. 1:54.52
400 Freestyle Relay: 3:08.24 vs. 3:09.34
800 Freestyle Relay: 6:58.55 vs. 7:00.24

Women’s Events

200 Freestyle: 1:52.98 vs. 1:54.92
200 Butterfly: 2:01.81 vs. 2:05.20

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Eadara

1 year ago

For the remaining records, it really depends on when a huge talent is born.
Back in 2017, no one would have thought men’s 200 fly world record could be broken before the men’s 100 free record. 1:50.3 on the men’s side is no less ridiculous than 2:01 on the women’s side, so theoretically we only need a female version of Milak to take the women’s 200 fly record down, and that may happen much earlier than many people think of.

Last edited 1 year ago by Eadara

Veritas

1 year ago

Reply to Eadara

Correct. I think that the 17 year old Mary T in one of today’s suits, today’s pools and doing a few more underwater dolphin kicks off the starts and turns would go 1:59 in the 200 meter fly.

David Abineri

1 year ago

This is all about another example of FINA’s inability to properly administer the sport and protect the athletes.