FINA are going to review current swimsuit design amid concerns that technology is influencing the sport:
news.bbc.co.uk/.../7312593.stm
Seems strange to me that the only way technical suits can be legal is if they do not offer an advantage but that the only reason for wearing one is to gain an advantage.
Does anyone out there wear a technical suit for reasons other than to help them go faster?
Parents
Former Member
From my understanding of the history of athletics, certain sports were considered to be “innate to the body” and not subject to aid from extraneous factors.
In fact, the word “Gym” (as in gymnastics or gymnasium) is derived from the Greek “Gymnos” which literally refers to performing in near nudity and swimming is one athletic activity that lends itself quite well to the definition of a “Gym” activity. However, It is the feel of being in the water with very minimal cover that makes swimming attractive and if you're wearing a "Dry Suit", practically all sensation is lost and you may as well go for ride in a mini submarine instead of swimming.
Here’s an idea to swim faster without subjecting the swimmer to the hassle of suiting up in an uncomfortable “costume”: Just add water softener (a surfactant that's in shampoo or bath gels) to the pool to break the surface tension and reduce hydrodynamic friction. Anyone who has taken a bubble bath that contains a water softener knows how it makes the water feel wetter and slippery.
I’ve heard a saying something to the effect that “To take away the feel of swimming is to completely ruin the art” -so let's not ruin the art.
Happy swimming :cool:
California Dolphin
From my understanding of the history of athletics, certain sports were considered to be “innate to the body” and not subject to aid from extraneous factors.
In fact, the word “Gym” (as in gymnastics or gymnasium) is derived from the Greek “Gymnos” which literally refers to performing in near nudity and swimming is one athletic activity that lends itself quite well to the definition of a “Gym” activity. However, It is the feel of being in the water with very minimal cover that makes swimming attractive and if you're wearing a "Dry Suit", practically all sensation is lost and you may as well go for ride in a mini submarine instead of swimming.
Here’s an idea to swim faster without subjecting the swimmer to the hassle of suiting up in an uncomfortable “costume”: Just add water softener (a surfactant that's in shampoo or bath gels) to the pool to break the surface tension and reduce hydrodynamic friction. Anyone who has taken a bubble bath that contains a water softener knows how it makes the water feel wetter and slippery.
I’ve heard a saying something to the effect that “To take away the feel of swimming is to completely ruin the art” -so let's not ruin the art.
Happy swimming :cool:
California Dolphin
