I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long.
Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop?
Parents
Former Member
It isn't a choice for serious competitors. You either use a fast suit and win or use a slow suit and lose
No, it is a choice. Serious competitors still decide on what suit(tech or not) to wear. They don't have to wear a tech suit, if they don't want too. And you assume they win and lose based on the suit worn...not the actual person in the suit
I do not know who are paid to use certain suits or who are given suits. I would suspect that the worlds best swimmers are given suits.
Ok, so were talking about USMS top swimmers or people like Phelps, Sullivan, Bernard, Lochte? If you are talking about USMS...majority buy their suits(yea, some probably have a good relationship to get discounts but not totally free) If you are talking about people like Phelps, Sullivan, etc. then it is no big secret that they get all the suits. Your gripe doesn't hold much weight here since the professionals are provided all their racing suits, goggles, training suits, equipment, etc.
Wanting the best possible time isn't a problem. To me using tech suits to achieve an artificially low time is what I do not agree with.
It isn't an artificial time. A swim that is completed legally in a race, wearing suits that are approved by the sports governing body, are real...legitmate times(like it or not) It's only "artifical" in your mind because you don't like the fact that the sport is attempting to move forward and men aren't wearing briefs anymore.
I thing everyone will remember the 2008 olympics for many many years. Too many records were broken. There was too much contoversy regarding the number of suits and types of suits
Doubt it. The 2008 Olympics will be remembered for Phelps winning 8 GOLD MEDALS.
It isn't a choice for serious competitors. You either use a fast suit and win or use a slow suit and lose
No, it is a choice. Serious competitors still decide on what suit(tech or not) to wear. They don't have to wear a tech suit, if they don't want too. And you assume they win and lose based on the suit worn...not the actual person in the suit
I do not know who are paid to use certain suits or who are given suits. I would suspect that the worlds best swimmers are given suits.
Ok, so were talking about USMS top swimmers or people like Phelps, Sullivan, Bernard, Lochte? If you are talking about USMS...majority buy their suits(yea, some probably have a good relationship to get discounts but not totally free) If you are talking about people like Phelps, Sullivan, etc. then it is no big secret that they get all the suits. Your gripe doesn't hold much weight here since the professionals are provided all their racing suits, goggles, training suits, equipment, etc.
Wanting the best possible time isn't a problem. To me using tech suits to achieve an artificially low time is what I do not agree with.
It isn't an artificial time. A swim that is completed legally in a race, wearing suits that are approved by the sports governing body, are real...legitmate times(like it or not) It's only "artifical" in your mind because you don't like the fact that the sport is attempting to move forward and men aren't wearing briefs anymore.
I thing everyone will remember the 2008 olympics for many many years. Too many records were broken. There was too much contoversy regarding the number of suits and types of suits
Doubt it. The 2008 Olympics will be remembered for Phelps winning 8 GOLD MEDALS.
