After seeing a woman break 24 seconds and I think we can stop the discussion of "IF" the LZR suit is faster and start thinking "how much faster".
The previous line of suits (Fastskin and so on) were pretty similiar to a shaved swimmer. Sure - they do feel like they make you float, but overall the times seemed to move along "in line" with what I would expect to see in terms of improvements in the sport. If the previous suits would have been that much faster than shaving, you would have never seen people just using the legskins. By the way - for us Masters swimmers there was always the added benefit of keeping in all the "extra layers of skin".
So how much faster are the LZR suits ?
If I had to guess based on the results so far, I would say 0.25 to 0.30 per 50 and double that for the 100. I can see the Bernard going 48 low in the 100 and I can see Sullivan getting close or just breaking the 50 record. It makes sense that Libby Lenton would swim a 24.2 or so in the 50.
I think one of the top regular teams out there should do a test - you need a good amount of world class swimmers training together to be able to do a test. Here is the test I would propose:
8-10 swimmers
2 days of testing
4x50 on 10 minutes all out
Day 1 - swim 2 with a Fastskin2 followed by 2 with the LZR
Day 2 - swim 2 with the LZR followed by 2 with the Fastskin2
Get the averages of all 10 swimmers - maybe drop the high and low and there you go.
Why do the test ? I would HAVE to know. Swimming is a big part of your life and you just set a massive PR using this new technology - my very first question would be " How much was me and how much was the suit?"?
Continuing my idea: Do the swimmers who recently broke world records with the LZR actually believe they are better athletes than the swimmers whose records were broken? If an LZR really does provide an advantage, then are we not comparing apples to oranges. This is why I will never wear an LZR. When I break a record, I want to know that I broke the record because of my ability, training, and determination, not technology.
Bill,
I am not sure exactly what you are arguing here. So if hypothetically speaking, you broke a record from 40 years ago, you would only count it if you were competing under the EXACT same circumstances with exactly the same equipment as the person who set the record?
Technology marches on. This has been hashed/rehashed/re-rehashed/etc. Why aren't you complaining about the use of goggles? Lycra? Non-turbulent lane lines? Starting blocks? Electronic timing? Deeper pools? Better water filtration? Better temperature control? Pre-lims/semis/finals? High altitude training? Professional athletes? Sponsors? Etc? Etc? Etc? Jeez, gimme a break.
Right or wrong, the new suits are here and they sure seem to be here to stay. If everyone in the Olympics can use these suits, then how can anyone get an advantage? Sorry, I don't buy that the elite athletes can't get what ever suit they wish, so once again, what's the big bloody deal?
Do you play golf? Do you have a mashie or a niblick in your bag? How about tennis? I sure hope you're still using a wooden frame and cat-gut strings. Do you ride a bike? Yeah, that single speed must be a real bear on hills.
Advances happen in every aspect of our lives, it really seems Pollyanna-ish to expect sport to be any different.
Continuing my idea: Do the swimmers who recently broke world records with the LZR actually believe they are better athletes than the swimmers whose records were broken? If an LZR really does provide an advantage, then are we not comparing apples to oranges. This is why I will never wear an LZR. When I break a record, I want to know that I broke the record because of my ability, training, and determination, not technology.
Bill,
I am not sure exactly what you are arguing here. So if hypothetically speaking, you broke a record from 40 years ago, you would only count it if you were competing under the EXACT same circumstances with exactly the same equipment as the person who set the record?
Technology marches on. This has been hashed/rehashed/re-rehashed/etc. Why aren't you complaining about the use of goggles? Lycra? Non-turbulent lane lines? Starting blocks? Electronic timing? Deeper pools? Better water filtration? Better temperature control? Pre-lims/semis/finals? High altitude training? Professional athletes? Sponsors? Etc? Etc? Etc? Jeez, gimme a break.
Right or wrong, the new suits are here and they sure seem to be here to stay. If everyone in the Olympics can use these suits, then how can anyone get an advantage? Sorry, I don't buy that the elite athletes can't get what ever suit they wish, so once again, what's the big bloody deal?
Do you play golf? Do you have a mashie or a niblick in your bag? How about tennis? I sure hope you're still using a wooden frame and cat-gut strings. Do you ride a bike? Yeah, that single speed must be a real bear on hills.
Advances happen in every aspect of our lives, it really seems Pollyanna-ish to expect sport to be any different.
