Splashing water on a dry suit before racing???

Former Member
Former Member
I have noticed Olympians and also at meets I have been at over the last six weeks that people are getting their suit wet before they race. I have always recommended that you do not dive in the water with a wet swim suit. Many suits are made of closely knit material and are water proof. Water droplets can not pass through these suits. I have been telling swimmers not to wet the suit before they race. The reports back to me is that they are faster wearing a completely dry swim suit before they enter the water. Comments please.
  • I have noticed Olympians and also at meets I have been at over the last six weeks that people are getting their suit wet before they race. I have always recomended that you do not dive in the water with a wet swim suit. Many suits are made of closely knit material and are water proof. Water droplets can not pass through these suits. I have been telling swimmers not to wet the suit before they race. The reports back to me is that they are faster wearing a completely dry swim suit before they enter the water. Comments please. I agree that the pre-race rituals of splashing oneself, spitting water back into the pool, and so forth are very silly and accomplish nothing. On very few occasions, I have splashed myself prior to a race because I was sweating and wanted to cool off a bit prior to getting on the blocks.
  • Since Starbucks is rarely on deck for a pre-race espresso, I like the cool-water splash for waking me up. Suit-science be damned!
  • Starbucks is rarely on deck Does he hang out in the locker room?
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I completely agree with geochuck. In fact, I argue that I want to still be dry when I finish my race too. ;)
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    nowhere have i seen anyone say the suits are less effective at the end of a 200 than the beginning. with this in mind why would it matter if you wet the suit down for a 100 or any similar scenario?
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    It is the first time you have heard this because mentioned this before. I have seen this with a few waterproof suits. A girl who used a kneck to knee suit swam 16 seconds faster for a 200 after I told her to use a dry suit. May be it was in her mind. That is the reason I mentioned this and asked for comments. nowhere have i seen anyone say the suits are less effective at the end of a 200 than the beginning. with this in mind why would it matter if you wet the suit down for a 100 or any similar scenario?
  • I'm not quite a chemist, but wouldn't that increase permeability through ionic differential?
  • The suits hold air for a little while,increasing buoyancy.This is much less of a effect with the fabric suits than it was with the tech suits.To me,every little bit helps.
  • If you noticed in any underwater shots, especially of the women's suits (more fabric), it seemed like they held some air there for at least awhile. While the modern suits are textile, not rubberized, I'm sure the fabric itself and whatever coatings they do use, are pretty hydrophobic.
  • Back when all we had was Lycra, we used to splash ourselves. I always assumed that it was less of a "shock" when you hit the water, and so could get right to the business of swimming. Or, it was just a little ritual to keep our minds occupied.
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