Is Swimming Still An Athletic Activity Or Is It Now A Mechanized Sport?
Former Member
Yeah, I know I’m going to get a lot of really negative comments on this one, but I ran across this article on the mechanical engineering techniques (computational hydrodynamic analysis) involved in the design of the FastSkin II suits:
www.fluent.com/.../pr69.htm
I can see where this “suit technology” approach can be of great advantage if you’re into some kind of commercial swimming or diving work, or in a military application that requires personnel swimmers involved in amphibious operations (such as the Navy Seals or the Marines).
And maybe, the Olympics and FINA should have a “RoboSwimmer” division (something similar to NASCAR) where all the latest speed enhancing/drag reducing and flotation assisting gadgets and gimmicks can be shown off.
Hey -eventually, the writers at MAD Magazine will catch onto this suit technology craze and come up with some ideas of their own such as “bubble wrap” skin (for enhanced buoyancy), a built in snorkel (no more hassle of timed breathing you had to learn back in Swimming 101-A), and of course -body fins- (to produce wake turbulence) and “wipe out” anyone who might be catching up in the adjacent lanes behind you!
I’m not kidding either - this issue is becoming hotly debated by swimming coaches too:
www-rohan.sdsu.edu/.../table.htm
But seriously, FastSkin II just amounts to another commercial product that anyone can go out and buy for the money. But in the end, the person with the real competitive edge is going to be one who has true athletic ability and has spent the more time practicing in the pool than anyone else in the race.
I would hope that we can stay with the traditional athletic approach instead of who's the most technology advanced.
Happy Swimming
Dolphin 2
:D
Parents
Former Member
This line of questioning always intrigues me because it seems pretty much to be limited to swimming. To put it into context I wonder how many bikers would like to go back to 40 pound 3-speed bikes? My racing mountain bike weighs half that. Or, how many elite Nordic skiers would like to give up graphite technology for bamboo poles and wooden skiis? My racing skiis are way faster than those and I wouldn't want to change back.
Vaulting poles are light weight, running shoes are 'engineered', and the list goes on...
But, closer to the subject, most of us know that the earliest swimmers didn't even have access to Speedo briefs. I wouldn't want to compete in a wool suit.
So, sports technology changes & I don't see why anyone gets too worked up over it. I've heard the argument that expensive suits drive out the folks who are limited in funds. But, if you swim 200 days a year in a cheap recreation center that charges $3 a swim that's $600. By comparison, the $300 retail price tag is small.
If you train hard to go to a big meet, fly there and use a hotel, the cost will probably be in excess of $500.
There's no question in my mind that the new suits are faster. If I want to stay competitive I get a new suit. I've done tests on myself and other master's swimmers and the improvement amounts to about 3.5%! You just can't ignore that.
-- mel
Reply
Former Member
This line of questioning always intrigues me because it seems pretty much to be limited to swimming. To put it into context I wonder how many bikers would like to go back to 40 pound 3-speed bikes? My racing mountain bike weighs half that. Or, how many elite Nordic skiers would like to give up graphite technology for bamboo poles and wooden skiis? My racing skiis are way faster than those and I wouldn't want to change back.
Vaulting poles are light weight, running shoes are 'engineered', and the list goes on...
But, closer to the subject, most of us know that the earliest swimmers didn't even have access to Speedo briefs. I wouldn't want to compete in a wool suit.
So, sports technology changes & I don't see why anyone gets too worked up over it. I've heard the argument that expensive suits drive out the folks who are limited in funds. But, if you swim 200 days a year in a cheap recreation center that charges $3 a swim that's $600. By comparison, the $300 retail price tag is small.
If you train hard to go to a big meet, fly there and use a hotel, the cost will probably be in excess of $500.
There's no question in my mind that the new suits are faster. If I want to stay competitive I get a new suit. I've done tests on myself and other master's swimmers and the improvement amounts to about 3.5%! You just can't ignore that.
-- mel
