www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../19679.asp
The most substantial change, of course, is that suits would no longer be allowed to extend past the knee.
My personal opinion is this is sort of an arbitrary change. What really should be changed--if anything--is what types of materials are allowed and maybe testing protocol to approve a suit. I don't really think requiring suits to end at the knees would affect much.
I can't imagine this will pass.
Note, however, that USA Swimming did pass legislation for USA Swimming competition that has those restrictions for age group swimming in the USA. I.e., if you're in a "senior" or "open" sort of meet or championship, then you can wear whatever you want. But if you are in an age group competition, you can only go to the shoulders and to the knee.
The argument there is that there were too many young kids (well, their parents!) going out and buying these expensive suits that just weren't necessary. So they decided to level the playing field a bit at the younger age group level.
-Rick
I can't imagine this will pass.
Note, however, that USA Swimming did pass legislation for USA Swimming competition that has those restrictions for age group swimming in the USA. I.e., if you're in a "senior" or "open" sort of meet or championship, then you can wear whatever you want. But if you are in an age group competition, you can only go to the shoulders and to the knee.
The argument there is that there were too many young kids (well, their parents!) going out and buying these expensive suits that just weren't necessary. So they decided to level the playing field a bit at the younger age group level.
-Rick
