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.
Parents
Former Member
swam 16 seconds faster for a 200 after I told her to use a dry suit. May be it was in her mind.
I was replying from a phone last night so my post didn't make much sense now that I look at it...
If the dry suit had THAT crazy of an effect, not only would we have all heard about it by now, you'd also notice the later splits in races get slower. If it really was 16 seconds in a 200 difference just by starting dry, then you should expect to see some major differences in split times with these suits during say, the second 200 of a 400 since that was "started" with the suit already wet. Even when you factor in pacing and getting tired, one would expect to see a difference that large indicated in split times, but there is none.
I don't buy it, at least not that extreme of a difference. The example you cite, it HAD to be in her mind or have other factors at play. A few tenths, perhaps. Thats at least a little easier to believe.
swam 16 seconds faster for a 200 after I told her to use a dry suit. May be it was in her mind.
I was replying from a phone last night so my post didn't make much sense now that I look at it...
If the dry suit had THAT crazy of an effect, not only would we have all heard about it by now, you'd also notice the later splits in races get slower. If it really was 16 seconds in a 200 difference just by starting dry, then you should expect to see some major differences in split times with these suits during say, the second 200 of a 400 since that was "started" with the suit already wet. Even when you factor in pacing and getting tired, one would expect to see a difference that large indicated in split times, but there is none.
I don't buy it, at least not that extreme of a difference. The example you cite, it HAD to be in her mind or have other factors at play. A few tenths, perhaps. Thats at least a little easier to believe.
