Ban the tech suits?

. Considering the use of PEDs and tech suits, I really wonder if Phelps really surpassed Mark Spitz's WR set in 1972. Dolphin 2 So, now you are accusing him of using PED's?

The whole sport of swimming would be better off if the so called tech suits were just dumped all together. When there are so many variables associated with "personally applied devices", the world's records set by swimmers (such as Michael Phelps in 2008) become highly questionable as to their legitimacy. At some near point, these WRs will be considered as artificial achievments. Considering the use of PEDs and tech suits, I really wonder if Phelps really surpassed Mark Spitz's WR set in 1972. Dolphin 2

It's competing at who can buy the supposedly "latest and greatest" from the suit makers and nothing but a "store bought" achievement. I was in Lane 4 the other day looking for the racks where they sell technique, dry land work, and 20,000 yards of swimming/week, but they must have been sold out. Probably need to check online.

I like that swimming is going high tech on anything, not just suits. It's a dang boring sport most of the time, even a glimmer of excitement helps. The excitement gets diluted. Popov went 21.64 and that's still amazing, even though a dozen guys went faster last year. Sullivan, Cielo, Leveaux, Bernard, and Bousquet, those guys are great. But how cool would it be for someone in briefs to hit 21.5? It's not likely to happen now, even though it probably could with all of the other advances in the sport. It's not a travesty or anything, it just bums me out a little. And, setting aside potential individual differences in bodysuit help, the greatest race ever from last summer (4x100 free) would still be the greatest race ever if the guys were wearing briefs. The pro-bodysuit people have been saying that it's not about the suits, it's about the swimmers, and I agree. That's why the suits just seem so unnecessary to me.

I wouldn't say they're the demise of swimming, but I do think the sport would be better off without them. I agree with this. But hey, I'm only top ten in a "not really masters" age group, right geek?

Hey Thewookie Using a tech suit to increase speed isn't competing at swimming, it's competing at who can buy the "latest and greatest" from the suit makers and nothing but a "store bought" achievement -and at $450 for an LZR, it's an expensive buy at that. Dolphin 2 It takes MORE than a techsuit to increase speed. If you knew anything about the sport, you would understand that a swimsuit is only one of many things needed for a swimmer to increase speed. Something a lot of people seem to forget, esp. one's that want to keep swimming in the dark ages. But, I guess since you only flounder around in a pool once in a blue moon, you wouldn't know how to increase speed..other than fins or paddles. You can't practice loooong slow swimming at a pool, put on a tech suit, and then EXPECT to swim superfast. WON'T HAPPEN. You actually have to PRACTICE SWIMMING FAST in order to swim FAST. Why don't you go back to aquatic park, find flipper and do dolphin dives together.

And if you bothered to actually read anything that Paul Smith or several other EXPERIENCED swimmers have said..."if you are swimming faster with paddles on, then you are dropping your elbows on the catch" So, to put it in layman's terms for you, if you are swimming faster with paddles, then you have stroke flaws. Go back to your hole and leave the swimming to people that actually have competed and still compete. Hey Thewookie Using a tech suit to increase speed isn't competing at swimming. It's competing at who can buy the supposedly "latest and greatest" from the suit makers and nothing but a "store bought" achievement. And at $450 for an LZR, it's an expensive buy at that. Dolphin 2

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.

I don't know one single Top 10 USMS swimmer who gets their suits for free, do you? I doubt USMS takes a different position on tech suits than USA swimming.

Using new suits or not using is an individual choice. If you don't like racing in them or competing against others that do use them, simple solution... find something else to do. If you want to compete in masters and don't want to spend the money on a tech suit, then don't spend it. Swim only for your pleasure(and don't compare your times with theirs) but don't gripe because others are using tech suits It isn't a choice for serious competitors. You either use a fast suit and win or use a slow suit and lose. Do you really want to lump all of them into this group? I would be willing to bet a good number of them don't get them for free. 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. Again, what is the problem with wanting the best possible time? If you ask people 5-10-15 or more years from now, most probably won't remember what suit they were wearing. They will remember their fastest times. 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. 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.