In swimming, 2008 is the Year of ....

No - it's not the year of the Olympics And no it's not the year of Michael Phelps - even all his amazing swims can not make the top spot. It's the year of THE SUITS ! Nothing has made a bigger impact on the sport than what we put on our body to compete. Love them or hate them, if you want to ban them or put on 3 layers - they have changed the sport forever. I just looked at the times from the European short-course meet and some of the times are so far beyond anything I thought was possible just 18 months ago. I grew up on scm - so maybe I can relate better -- but 20.4 - 44.9 - and the 4x50 in 1:20.7 ????? The yards time for this are 18 low / approaching sub 40 territory and 1:12 in the relay !!! So somebody will swim under 40 in the 100 Free -- somebody else will break 1:30 in the 200 -- I think the 4 minutes in the 500 may go at some point. Close 1:20 in a 200 medley relay -- sub 3 minutes in the 400 Medley. Approaching 50 seconds in the 100 *** ???? This is the first time in the swimming world that if you hear that somebody did a fast time, your first comment is: What suit was he wearing ?