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?
What does this prove? Maybe the fact that swimming was one of the exceptions to this rule was one of things some of us liked about the sport.
It doesn't prove anything. But just because people don't like change is no reason to ban a technological improvement from the sport! Look, chances are pretty good that I'll never buy one of these suits, so I don't really have a vested interest in whether or not they are banned. But we're not getting paid to swim, so beyond a little bit of pride, what do I care whether or not I get beat by somebody wearing a $300 suit. If you're wearing one and you beat me by just a slim margin, I know that chances are good I can compete with you sans suit or if we both have a suit. And I do know how good it feels to beat somebody with far superior equipment. It feels good. So, I'll continue to work hard and if I keep improving, I'll beat somebody one of these days!
What does this prove? Maybe the fact that swimming was one of the exceptions to this rule was one of things some of us liked about the sport.
It doesn't prove anything. But just because people don't like change is no reason to ban a technological improvement from the sport! Look, chances are pretty good that I'll never buy one of these suits, so I don't really have a vested interest in whether or not they are banned. But we're not getting paid to swim, so beyond a little bit of pride, what do I care whether or not I get beat by somebody wearing a $300 suit. If you're wearing one and you beat me by just a slim margin, I know that chances are good I can compete with you sans suit or if we both have a suit. And I do know how good it feels to beat somebody with far superior equipment. It feels good. So, I'll continue to work hard and if I keep improving, I'll beat somebody one of these days!
