The Swimming World magazine have posted this article, www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../20390.asp
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, February 19. IN an attempt to have a united front on what possible changes they are willing to have enacted with regard to speedsuits, suit manufacturers got together for a meeting today in Switzerland, according to Tony Austin of the SCAQ Blog.
Without working together, there was a definite possibility that the powers working against speedsuits continuing in the sport altogether could have capitalized on a split agenda by the various competing manufacturers.
According to Austin's reporting, the manufacturers have agreed to a game plan heading into tomorrow's meeting. The restrictions they are willing to agree to immediately without any fight are "a de facto buoyancy test, suit thickness guidelines, a rule to ban multiple suits and/or duct tape ‘mods' and most importantly clear cut rules so that suit innovation can take place without the fear of a nebulous interpretation wiping out bundles of money in R&D expenses at the last minute."
Tomorrow, the official recommendation that will be put in front of the FINA congress will be hammered out.
Full text of the blog posting.
Look like a compromise will be the probable outcome from this mess about Tech-suits.
The Manufactures are in too strong positions to accept a complete ban at top level, too much money is on the stake, so they're showing all together to force the hand to FINA with a common position, with minor changes.
All the swimming's world needed money from major sponsors, and The tech suits are a great source of profit.
The overall performance are improved too much in a blink at every level to even think that the suit don't affect the performance in pool, and if they affect the performance by rule they'd be banned period.
But for me it's too late and too much to loose for nearly everybody to return to speedoo.
It's ironic that multiple suits are accepted to be banned because help the swimmers, but if multiple suits helps then every single suit must help at little bit, even one alone only, otherwise it's a nosense in first place. So why banned multiple suite if the suit don't help buoyance ?
Believe it or not, some female swimmers are taping their thoracic region with duct tape before putting on a swim suit - to minimize surface area.
Male swimmers are duct taping their abdominal area in an effort to reinforce the core stabilizer muscles.
Taping muscles, ligaments and joints has a long history (e.g., football, basketball). The primary effect is to stabilize excessive motion - however, there is some evidence that compressing muscle reduces percieved fatigue.
I believe that there is a special duct tape that combines the properties of elastic bandages with the compressive properties of duct tape. It appears to be favored by elite volleyball athletes.
I would hazard that one would wish to shave the area of the body that is to be subject to duct tape (prior to application). LOL.
Leslie,
He's referring to this article
Device Testing is Next Big Controversy in Competitive Swimming
-- February 19, 2009
Swimmers are using duct tape as a device on their skin to bind muscle groups together.
PHOENIX, Arizona, February 19.
WITH the major swimsuit players and manufacturers assembling in Lausanne, Switzerland today and tomorrow to discuss standards for swimsuit technology, a new controversy is looming over the waters.
In the March issue of Swimming World Magazine, publisher Brent Rutemiller reveals what some athletes are doing under their suits to enhance their performances. Here is an excerpt of what Rutemiller reports:
Early reports indicate a growing trend in which swimmers are using duct tape as a device on their skin to bind muscle groups together. They are trying to get the same effect as a $500 high-performance suit that promotes core body stability. Since swimmers will be limited to only one racing suit during a competition, they are already coming up with their own devices to keep that competitive edge.
Some female athletes are using tape as a first-level form of compression to streamline their chests before getting into a racing suit. Both males and females are experimenting by tightly wrapping tape around their core body.
During the 2008 Olympic Games, the benefits of athletic taping made volleyball headlines when a new type of tape, Kinesio Tape, showed up on the shoulders, arms, legs and backs of many high-profile athletes.
In Lance Armstrong's book, "Every Second Counts," he praised the athletic tape that came from Japan as having "magical powers."
Athletes are learning that the tape can be applied in a specific pattern—either stretched or not stretched—depending on the needed outcome. Many claim that the tape method helps relieve pain by lifting the skin to allow the blood to flow more freely to the muscles.
The fact that athletes are now applying those lessons in innovative ways indicates device testing may be the next fight within the governing communities.
Kinesio tape is nothing like duct tape though ... I don't see any compression in that. It's used to provide pain relief while swimming?!
I can't believe people are duct taping themselves ... Yeesh.
And I agree with Ourswimmer. I can't stand kneeskins. I see no reason why grown adults should be regulated in this fashion.
Mazzy the sources of that release is:
PR16 - Meeting between FINA and swimwear manufacturers
FINA Releases Information About Speedsuit Meeting Held in Switzerland Today
-- February 20, 2009
FINA is proposing what I expected them to:
1 suit per swimmer not too much float
Since it is proposed, doesn't look like it's a rule yet.
Wonder what happens to all the suits swimmers already have?
also doesn't mention the brief beneath for "modesty purposes"
but in addition to DRUG testing looks like we're now going to have DEVICE TESTING
Device Testing is Next Big Controversy in Competitive Swimming -- February 19, 2009
I'm sure there is going to be new language in rules:
USMS Rule 102.15.9
Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help their speed, pace, or buoyancy.
USA Swimming Rule 102.10.10:
"No swimmer is permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help his/her speed or buoyancy during a race."
Ande
The official press release from FINA:
FINA, represented by its Executive and Technical Swimming Commission, Legal, Coaches and Athletes Commissions’ representatives, held today a meeting in Lausanne (SUI) with representatives of 16 swimwear manufacturers in order to examine amendments of the current ‘FINA Requirements for Swimwear Approval’.
Based on FINA's proposals and contributions discussed at the meeting, the FINA Bureau at its meeting on March 12 - 14, 2009 in Dubai (UAE) will consider amendments which include:
• DESIGN: The swimsuit shall not cover the neck and shall not extend past the shoulders nor past the ankles;
• MATERIAL:
o The material used shall have a maximum thickness of 1mm;
o When used, the material shall follow the body shape;
o The application of different materials shall not create air trapping effects;
• BUOYANCY: The swimsuit shall not have a buoyancy effect of more than 1 Newton (100gr);
• CONSTRUCTION: Any system providing external stimulation or influence of any form (e.g. pain reduction, chemical/medical substance release, electro-stimulation) is prohibited;
• CUSTOMISATION: All swimsuits of an approved model must be constructed in an identical fashion with no variation/modification for individual swimmers from the samples submitted for approval;
• USE: The swimmer can only wear one swimsuit at a time;
• CONTROL: FINA will establish its own independent control/testing programme. Scientific testing will be conducted by a team led by Prof. Jan-Anders Manson, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Technology;
• APPROVAL: Swimwear manufacturers will be able to make submissions for approval of swimsuits until March 31, 2009.
In a further step, rules applicable from January 1, 2010 will also be examined by the Bureau.
One of the main aspects to be considered is the limitation of the use of non-permeable material.
“FINA has studied this matter very carefully, and together with all interested parties and the scientific expertise of EPFL, we have reached the best possible result.
"With these amendments, FINA shows that it continues to monitor the evolution of the sport’s equipment with the main objective of keeping the integrity of sport. While we need to remain open to evolution, the most important factors must be the athletes’ preparation and physical condition on achieving their performances”, considered FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui.
One more thing: I read that article, that I think Ande posted, about the Aussie girl 200 flyer and how she didn't wear a new tech suit at their Oly Trials, and didn't make it in her "sure thing" event.
I believe I read that she is very petite and could not get a suit that fit properly.
Can we still wear the B70 Nero Comp for Natls? (That's the important thing here :D )!!!
And if this new rule is coming, what will that do these past records, etc? I assume they'll stand b/c they can't very well go back and just "erase" swims, esp if you can't say who wore what suit!
I am not at all surprised about what's happening at the D1 level. I was talking to a very elite swimmer (multiple WR holder) last night at practice and she concurred that the suit makes a dramatic difference, no matter what you're level. She did also say that she thought that the biggest help would be with compression around the core (ie, my big tummy!).
Interesting.
Well They'll be history at least most of them if next month the bureau will pass the new proposal, simply.
There's no other way, LZR is against the new proposal with the rigid support that force the body to adapt.
Really? I had the impression from reading the recommendation that the new suits might stay and perhaps regulating future evolution?
Karen, I think the new rules are supposed to be implemented this summer? I think the LZR and Pro are supposed to help more with core compression than the B70. That's why the double suiters are wearing them with the B70.
Really? I had the impression from reading the recommendation that the new suits might stay and perhaps regulating future evolution?
That's my take. I don't see anything obvious that makes the current suits such as the LZR and BlueSeventy Nero illegal. Possibly the material thickness, but I don't own any of these suits, so don't know for sure.
The official press release from FINA:
FINA, represented by its Executive and Technical Swimming Commission, Legal, Coaches and Athletes Commissions’ representatives, held today a meeting in Lausanne (SUI) with representatives of 16 swimwear manufacturers in order to examine amendments of the current ‘FINA Requirements for Swimwear Approval’.
Based on FINA's proposals and contributions discussed at the meeting, the FINA Bureau at its meeting on March 12-14, 2009 in Dubai (UAE) will consider amendments which include:
• DESIGN: The swimsuit shall not cover the neck and shall not extend past the shoulders nor past the ankles;
• MATERIAL:
o The material used shall have a maximum thickness of 1mm;
o When used, the material shall follow the body shape;
o The application of different materials shall not create air trapping effects;
• BUOYANCY: The swimsuit shall not have a buoyancy effect of more than 1 Newton (100gr);
• CONSTRUCTION: Any system providing external stimulation or influence of any form (e.g. pain reduction, chemical/medical substance release, electro-stimulation) is prohibited;
• CUSTOMISATION: All swimsuits of an approved model must be constructed in an identical fashion with no variation/modification for individual swimmers from the samples submitted for approval;
• USE: The swimmer can only wear one swimsuit at a time;
• CONTROL: FINA will establish its own independent control/testing programme. Scientific testing will be conducted by a team led by Prof. Jan-Anders Manson, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Technology;
• APPROVAL: Swimwear manufacturers will be able to make submissions for approval of swimsuits until March 31, 2009.
In a further step, rules applicable from January 1, 2010 will also be examined by the Bureau.
One of the main aspects to be considered is the limitation of the use of non-permeable material.
“FINA has studied this matter very carefully, and together with all interested parties and the scientific expertise of EPFL, we have reached the best possible result.
"With these amendments, FINA shows that it continues to monitor the evolution of the sport’s equipment with the main objective of keeping the integrity of sport. While we need to remain open to evolution, the most important factors must be the athletes’ preparation and physical condition on achieving their performances”, considered FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui.
FINA is proposing what I expected them to:
1 suit per swimmer not too much float
Since it is proposed, doesn't look like it's a rule yet.
Wonder what happens to all the suits swimmers already have?
Since they didn't address suits already approved, the guidelines may be use on new suits. They left themselves some wiggle room on the suits from 2008 and may let them stay.
