Why is it that FINA rules apply to short course yards competition?
It would have been interesting if consideration was given into doing things differently, particularly since we are the only country where non-metric events are held.
Example... the tech suit ban could be revisited. Perhaps backstroke starts should once again allow for toes to be planted over the edge of the gutter?
To answer your question, aside from the performance boost, a lot of people enjoyed the feeling of being covered up. Ironically when the ban was enacted, I knew a handful of self conscious competitors who chose to shy away. To be honest, they weren't all breaking records, but merely enjoying the meets.
Regarding cost... agreed that those suits were ridiculously expensive. There must be thousands of them in some remote warehouses just collecting dust. I bet you could buy one for under fifty dollars since they're all but useless.
What's really odd is the current mens "performance" jammers, and the ridiculous three and four hundred dollar price tag. That's just insane, and highly questionable if they even do anything! - They're probably taking the left over body suits, cutting off the tops and legs, and passing them off as the latest and greatest.
To answer your question, aside from the performance boost, a lot of people enjoyed the feeling of being covered up. Ironically when the ban was enacted, I knew a handful of self conscious competitors who chose to shy away. To be honest, they weren't all breaking records, but merely enjoying the meets.
Regarding cost... agreed that those suits were ridiculously expensive. There must be thousands of them in some remote warehouses just collecting dust. I bet you could buy one for under fifty dollars since they're all but useless.
What's really odd is the current mens "performance" jammers, and the ridiculous three and four hundred dollar price tag. That's just insane, and highly questionable if they even do anything! - They're probably taking the left over body suits, cutting off the tops and legs, and passing them off as the latest and greatest.
