USA Swimming proposes rule limiting suits

I think these suits help the swimmer swim faster. Some suits are faster than other suits. I'm sure any suit is faster than just briefs or why would a swimmer wear it. Why can't swimmers swim against each other instead of swimmers swimming against the suits of other competitors? Not much usually bugs me, but I am sooooooo sick of this topic and wish it would stop popping to the top of the forum. To all you Luddites who want to ban these suits: next time you go to the pool, please: leave your goggles, your nylon suits, your lycra suits, your buoys, your paddles, your caps, your fins, your kickboards, your stretch cords, your tempo timers, EVERYTHING BEHIND ... show up and swim as nature intended you to. In the meantime while you find yourself a lawyer to defend you in your public indeceny trial, please answer this: At what point in time did the technology of the day NOT contribute to swimmers going faster than they did with the previous technology? That's the whole point.

If they did not make one swim faster they would not use them. You aren't breaking any ground with that statement. Yes, people swim fast in these suits, that's the whole point. I really think people need to grow up and move on. Technology happens in all sports, it's here to stay. Swim naked if you want, I'll wear the suit of my choice.

Swimming faster is not illegal. It's the entire point. You forgot parachutes, Patrick. :) Nicely said though!

I appreciate your honesty. But, it pretty much comes down to an objection based on means, not on their value to swimming. I suspect this is really the truth for most opponents. The cost and availability of the suits is only part of the objection. I think these suits help the swimmer swim faster. Some suits are faster than other suits. I'm sure any suit is faster than just briefs or why would a swimmer wear it. Why can't swimmers swim against each other instead of swimmers swimming against the suits of other competitors?

As Wookie pointed out, the suits don't swim themselves. If swimmers did not swim faster with the tech suits why do they wear them? Swimmers put up with the suits tearing, struggling to put them on, and the price(some swimmers). If they did not make one swim faster they would not use them.

Swimming faster is not illegal. It's the entire point. You forgot parachutes, Patrick. :) Nicely said though! Amen! Nice way of putting things Patrick. The whole goal is to swim the fastest possible time. If people want to ban tech suits...then the triathlon world needs to ban wetsuits too...because they help triathletes swim faster. People will always look for things to give them a phyiscal or mental edge. If the suits do one or the other or both, fine. Too many people want to take swimming back to yester year. Why can't the accept change. Swimming loses too many kids, esp. young boys because of the stigma of wearing a "speedo" type suit. The newer suits...jammers, legskins, bodysuits, help get rid of that stigma. If they keep kids in the sport, I am all for it. To the "purists" if you don't like the suits...don't buy them. But don't try to ruin the advancement of swimming for everyone else.

Amen! Nice way of putting things Patrick. The whole goal is to swim the fastest possible time. If people want to ban tech suits...then the triathlon world needs to ban wetsuits too...because they help triathletes swim faster. People will always look for things to give them a phyiscal or mental edge. If the suits do one or the other or both, fine. Too many people want to take swimming back to yester year. Why can't the accept change. Swimming loses too many kids, esp. young boys because of the stigma of wearing a "speedo" type suit. The newer suits...jammers, legskins, bodysuits, help get rid of that stigma. If they keep kids in the sport, I am all for it. To the "purists" if you don't like the suits...don't buy them. But don't try to ruin the advancement of swimming for everyone else. I don't know much about triathletes, but aren't the wet suits for use only below a set temperature? I think it is for the safety of the athlete. IMO, tech suits are ruining the sport.

for what it's worth yesterday in my blog andesswimmingblog.blogspot.com I wrote "Tomorrow I'm going to do a fast 50 free in practice while wearing 3 or 4 tech suits, we'll see what happens." Today I tested swimming fast while wearing 3 blue seventy suits here's what happened: (First I did the regular work out from 6:10 am to 7:00 am then got out ) changed into FS PRO legs and 3 blue seventy suits after they were on I felt like the michelin man 3 suits squeeze down pretty tight legs felt very restricted had difficulty walking felt pressure on my ribs after being zipped in it was hard to bend over 50 SCY fast roll start off side whitney timed went 22.3 definitely felt more float but my legs felt restricted, I think wearing that many suits weakened my kick, plus it was hard to turn, I couldn't ball up as much. Wasn't happy with the time, thought I'd go faster. I don't think wearing 3 B70's provided me with any advantage for sprinting a 50 free, though I could see how it might help in open water swimming where you don't need to turn or kick hard. 100 easy Removed 2 suits Blue seventy over FS PRO LEGS 50 SCY fast whitney timed went 21.69 felt much better, think the time speaks for itself. may do further testing in the weeks to come. like times for 1 B70, 2 B70 B70 & FS PRO HN B70 & FS PRO legskin B70 & FS Pro jammer

But then again....why should I be surprised he doesn't understand something about competitive swimming? It's because briefs look like underwear - and more like panties than BVDs. So boys have always been a bit sensitive about walking around on the deck with so little coverage. Yes - non-swimmers DO make fun of boys wearing briefs. Always have, probably always will. I totally get this as I've swum my whole life and got the jests from my non-swimming friends and classmates all my life. But, come on guys, we gotta get over this ... girls/women are equally, if not more, exposed (seen the bikini training suits?) and get on with it just fine. Let's teach our boys, sons, selves to "Man Up" and to wear their briefs proudly!

"Tomorrow I'm going to do a fast 50 free in practice while wearing 3 or 4 tech suits, we'll see what happens." Um, Ande, seek counseling.