Take a look at the press release posted on swiminfo.com: www.swiminfo.com/.../6949.asp
Here's a quote that bothers me:
By strategically increasing the surface area, TYR has increased his/her ability to pull without increasing any resistance through the recovery. Just think of it as ascending an aquatic ladder.
Should these be allowed? I would guess that they are o.k. as far as current rules read, but I don't like it. I think these sleeves amount to an aid, sort of like wearing paddles. I guess the question is: what constitutes a swimsuit? Obviously caps are o.k., so you can't argue that it must be one piece.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by gull80
Using that reasoning, the purpose of a shoe is to cover the foot, so I guess the track and field athletes should wear Keds instead of those high tech running shoes. And what about their body suits?
Your analogy is a poor one for several reasons.
First, the purpose of shoes is very different from the purpose of a swimsuit. There has never been any question that shoes are not just a costume for the feet, but a protective device that is designed to prevent foot injuries of various types.
Second, "high tech running shoes" still cover only the feet, just like Keds.
Third, no one in this thread has ever suggested that it is wrong to make swimsuits as high tech as possible provided that they still remain swimsuits. Until the late 1990s, the goal of swimsuit design was to minimize the effect that a swimsuit had on a swimmer's performance, and this was accomplished by using high tech fabrics that reduced drag and minimized water absorption. But suddenly in the late 1990s the goal became to create a swimsuit that would actually enhance a swimmer's performance, and to maximize that effect.
A better analogy would be a "ski outfit" for use by ski jumpers which had a jacket and helmet that looked mysteriously like a hang glider.
Bob
Originally posted by gull80
Using that reasoning, the purpose of a shoe is to cover the foot, so I guess the track and field athletes should wear Keds instead of those high tech running shoes. And what about their body suits?
Your analogy is a poor one for several reasons.
First, the purpose of shoes is very different from the purpose of a swimsuit. There has never been any question that shoes are not just a costume for the feet, but a protective device that is designed to prevent foot injuries of various types.
Second, "high tech running shoes" still cover only the feet, just like Keds.
Third, no one in this thread has ever suggested that it is wrong to make swimsuits as high tech as possible provided that they still remain swimsuits. Until the late 1990s, the goal of swimsuit design was to minimize the effect that a swimsuit had on a swimmer's performance, and this was accomplished by using high tech fabrics that reduced drag and minimized water absorption. But suddenly in the late 1990s the goal became to create a swimsuit that would actually enhance a swimmer's performance, and to maximize that effect.
A better analogy would be a "ski outfit" for use by ski jumpers which had a jacket and helmet that looked mysteriously like a hang glider.
Bob
