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?
I was 9 years old in 1972 and had been swimming for about a year when Spitz won his 7 gold medals. As well as I can remember, he wasn’t wearing a suit that I couldn’t also wear as a kid. In fact, I have a picture of me wearing that same iconic Stars and Stripes suit that he wore in the famous photo. There were no discussions about the "have’s and have not’s", "are you old enough or not", "are you good enough or not", regarding swimsuits.
I guess I just have this general uneasiness with the suits that I can’t quite express. That somehow it’s not the “pure” sport that it was, and I don't think that's good. I guess I’m now officially old. :cane:
We are about the same age, but I never DID like that suit...
Nostalgia is great, but not necessarily as a basis for policy. Because I am sure there are people out there who would prefer we emulate Johnny Weismuller, or do the old backstroke turns of John Nabor, or think we should use wooden blocks or lane ropes.
And I'm sure there are little kids today who are vowing to train hard and are visualizing themselves on the blocks wearing the same suit as Michael Phelps. Times change.
I was 9 years old in 1972 and had been swimming for about a year when Spitz won his 7 gold medals. As well as I can remember, he wasn’t wearing a suit that I couldn’t also wear as a kid. In fact, I have a picture of me wearing that same iconic Stars and Stripes suit that he wore in the famous photo. There were no discussions about the "have’s and have not’s", "are you old enough or not", "are you good enough or not", regarding swimsuits.
I guess I just have this general uneasiness with the suits that I can’t quite express. That somehow it’s not the “pure” sport that it was, and I don't think that's good. I guess I’m now officially old. :cane:
We are about the same age, but I never DID like that suit...
Nostalgia is great, but not necessarily as a basis for policy. Because I am sure there are people out there who would prefer we emulate Johnny Weismuller, or do the old backstroke turns of John Nabor, or think we should use wooden blocks or lane ropes.
And I'm sure there are little kids today who are vowing to train hard and are visualizing themselves on the blocks wearing the same suit as Michael Phelps. Times change.
