This comment would be relevent only if Phelps had these advantages and no one else did. However he will be wearing the same super-suit that everyone else will be wearing. So Phelps' accomplishments in Beijing, whatever they are, will stand on their own. Phelps will win or not based on his training and ability to perform on the big stage.
The swimsuit has nothing to do with his workouts, nor his incredible versatility. I was a huge Spitz fan, but Phelps is a world class swimmer in every stroke (including breaststroke).
I (and many, many others) have posed this question before: If the suit does NOT provide any swimmer with an advantage over another (and everyone is in fact competing on a level playing field), what is really being achieved (except adding NASCAR appeal to swimming) by introducing all these mechanical aids in the first place?
On the other hand, if tech suits DO provide an advantage, then that's a No-No and another nail in the coffin for these suits.
In both of these cases, the logical solution is to just go back to Square 1 and have FINA dispense with tech suits altogether. Then go back to having everyone wearing simple briefs and the swimmer with the best body and atheletic mind will still win.
However, the main difference is that the world records (for a given distance and technique) themselves may not have been broken at the rate they have been prior to low drag suits being brought into the game.
Be the same reasoning, one thing that I have a problem with is the suit manufacturers boasting how a world's record was set with their suit. We are looking at who really is the best at swimming -not which company is the best at making faster swim suits.
Happy swimming
Dolphin 2 :)
This comment would be relevent only if Phelps had these advantages and no one else did. However he will be wearing the same super-suit that everyone else will be wearing. So Phelps' accomplishments in Beijing, whatever they are, will stand on their own. Phelps will win or not based on his training and ability to perform on the big stage.
The swimsuit has nothing to do with his workouts, nor his incredible versatility. I was a huge Spitz fan, but Phelps is a world class swimmer in every stroke (including breaststroke).
I (and many, many others) have posed this question before: If the suit does NOT provide any swimmer with an advantage over another (and everyone is in fact competing on a level playing field), what is really being achieved (except adding NASCAR appeal to swimming) by introducing all these mechanical aids in the first place?
On the other hand, if tech suits DO provide an advantage, then that's a No-No and another nail in the coffin for these suits.
In both of these cases, the logical solution is to just go back to Square 1 and have FINA dispense with tech suits altogether. Then go back to having everyone wearing simple briefs and the swimmer with the best body and atheletic mind will still win.
However, the main difference is that the world records (for a given distance and technique) themselves may not have been broken at the rate they have been prior to low drag suits being brought into the game.
Be the same reasoning, one thing that I have a problem with is the suit manufacturers boasting how a world's record was set with their suit. We are looking at who really is the best at swimming -not which company is the best at making faster swim suits.
Happy swimming
Dolphin 2 :)
