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?"?
I read your argument to mean that all suits somehow hinder your speed and that the new LZR only hinders it less. Does this mean that our skin is faster than any suit? I just don't think you argument works, these suits to help you move through the water faster and help with recovery.
I'm starting to think that these suits are breaking the rules....
One of the articles in Lindsay's links seems to say as much:
"And that being the case, why would a federation wish to deny that its suit of choice is performance enhancing? Perhaps because the rules frown on such definitions. If so, what has to change, the suit (not going to happen) or the rules and processes of suit approval."
Which echoes what I said earlier.
I could only really skim through the articles (I really should be grading...but I am easily distracted from that odious chore) but what many of the athletes seemed to say was that the compression was the biggest factor about the suits. It is NOT about drag.
I also found Schubert's comment interesting: My advice to athletes is 'you have a black and white decision' - the money or the gold medal. And it's going to be a real test of character as to what choice they make.' I am not sure if he is saying it will show character to WEAR the suits (presumably showing your dedication to winning gold) or NOT to wear them.
(Now, honestly, back to grading)
I read your argument to mean that all suits somehow hinder your speed and that the new LZR only hinders it less. Does this mean that our skin is faster than any suit? I just don't think you argument works, these suits to help you move through the water faster and help with recovery.
I'm starting to think that these suits are breaking the rules....
One of the articles in Lindsay's links seems to say as much:
"And that being the case, why would a federation wish to deny that its suit of choice is performance enhancing? Perhaps because the rules frown on such definitions. If so, what has to change, the suit (not going to happen) or the rules and processes of suit approval."
Which echoes what I said earlier.
I could only really skim through the articles (I really should be grading...but I am easily distracted from that odious chore) but what many of the athletes seemed to say was that the compression was the biggest factor about the suits. It is NOT about drag.
I also found Schubert's comment interesting: My advice to athletes is 'you have a black and white decision' - the money or the gold medal. And it's going to be a real test of character as to what choice they make.' I am not sure if he is saying it will show character to WEAR the suits (presumably showing your dedication to winning gold) or NOT to wear them.
(Now, honestly, back to grading)
