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 have got to admit the cost of these suits should be taken into account at the age group level. There is no reason why any swimmer under the age of 14 (perhaps even 16) should need to be decked out in full body racing suits.
The reality is that there are plenty of spoiled young kids that will convince their parents to drop $100's on a new LZR to be just like Michael Phelps or the other Olympic champs. And some parents will be hoodwinked into believing that their child will not become the next great swimmer without the amazing suit!
I have got to admit the cost of these suits should be taken into account at the age group level. There is no reason why any swimmer under the age of 14 (perhaps even 16) should need to be decked out in full body racing suits.
The reality is that there are plenty of spoiled young kids that will convince their parents to drop $100's on a new LZR to be just like Michael Phelps or the other Olympic champs. And some parents will be hoodwinked into believing that their child will not become the next great swimmer without the amazing suit!
