This new thread occurred to me while reading posts comparing Spitz to Phelps, as well as reflecting upon mortality considering heart attacks etc. In swimming we immortalize individuals or teams for various feats or contributions, but do little to preserve a feeling for subsequent generations of enthusiasts about what it was like to train and compete 'back in the day'. Just what day am I talking about? Exactly: there have been many 'days' or more properly 'eras' that can be narrowly characterized by differences in equipment, distances swum and trained, coaching methods or more widely by larger factors: world war, global depression, racial segregation, inequality of the sexes. All of these can contribute to very different experiences than what are common today to the younger swimmer; hence, 'what was it like'. I visualize a thread that continues to be added to as new people read it and remember their own experiences. As well, experience can vary with national origin, not just era. There have already been posts on this topic scattered in various threads, please feel free to copy or quote material from them to here.
Please remember that this is not about how fast a particular swimmer was, but about the conditions that defined competitive swimming of that day.
We also have a priceless resource out there: aging swimmers in their 80's or 90's who may be less likely to read or hear of this thread; why not ask them for some of their memories or impressions and pass them on to us, while we still can?
The early lycra (Belgrade) suits for women were scandalous because they had no skirts or lining. They were nicknamed "boob tubes" after the popular women's clothing article. I was told they took at least 20 minutes to get on. They were available in one color, royal blue. Had snaps at one shoulder that caused rashes and pain. They were not transparent when wet, but no one had to guess about birth marks or moles. I'm not convinced they were even lycra, just real tight.
I got my first (speedo) lycra suit in 1974 at LC nationals in Concord, CA. Not knowing any better (no knowledge of the stretchiness of the fabric), I picked the same size I wore in nylon. It felt real fast dry, but turned into a baloon when racing.
The early lycra (Belgrade) suits for women were scandalous because they had no skirts or lining. They were nicknamed "boob tubes" after the popular women's clothing article. I was told they took at least 20 minutes to get on. They were available in one color, royal blue. Had snaps at one shoulder that caused rashes and pain. They were not transparent when wet, but no one had to guess about birth marks or moles. I'm not convinced they were even lycra, just real tight.
I got my first (speedo) lycra suit in 1974 at LC nationals in Concord, CA. Not knowing any better (no knowledge of the stretchiness of the fabric), I picked the same size I wore in nylon. It felt real fast dry, but turned into a baloon when racing.
