Yes this is another thread about the suits.
I think Speedo completely shot themselves in the foot with the LZR Racer suit. If you look back at the history I think they've shown a tremendous amount of arrogance and I, for one, am glad to see karma come back to bite them.
Here's a short history as I see it:
1. Speedo develops the LZR suit and begins an unprecedented marketing blitz at the start of 2008. We're talking TV ads, appearances by Phelps and Coughlin on the Today Show wearing the suits. It was pretty clear Speedo wanted the LZR to be the story of the Olympics, and for the most part they got their wish...
2. Top athletes start wearing the LZR and records fall in droves. Speedo has seemingly accomplished their mission of designing the suit that every serious swimmer needs to have to compete. Paid shill and USA Swimming National Team coach Mark Schubert talks about how the suit is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The suit, however, is not available to the general public.
3. The Olympics go just as Speedo intended. Phelps wins eight golds wearing the suit. The average Joe on the street even knows about the suit. It still isn't available to the general public, though, and demand continues to grow.
4. At the same time, somewhat surreptitiously, several other manufacturers come out with new suits. These fly completely under the radar for a while, but the serious fan can see that the LZR isn't the only fast suit out there. Also, these other suits are actually available to everyone AND are cheaper than what the LZR will cost!
5. The Speedo suit finally becomes available to the general public. I'm sure demand was high initially, but I just never saw it gain huge acceptance outside of National level athletes, college teams endorsed by Speedo, etc.
6. The Blue Seventy Nero emerges as a worthly contender to the LZR and sells like hot cakes. People initially buy it because Speedo attempted to manipulate the market and drive up demand for the LZR. This strategy fails when people realize the B70 is probably just as fast, available, and cheaper.
7. Speedo runs crying to FINA. They convince FINA to impose news rules on suits that will lead to the B70 suit being banned, while allowing the pure, snowy white LZR to remain legal.
8. The Jaked suit from Italy first comes to the attention of the U.S. market when Auburn swims lights out on the final day of men's NCAAs to nip Texas. It's star rises further when a largely unknown swimmer from Spain destroys the 50 meter fly world record and nearly takes down what is considered one of the greatest records on the books--Crocker's 100 fly--which, incidently is one of the few remaining records set without the aid of the latest generation of suits.
9. Speedo's paid shill Mark Schubert flip-flops and is now against the suits.
"It's totally out of control... Now we're into speedboat driving.'' (newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/.../ioc-must-stop-swimming-from-sinking-in-its-leaders-stupidity.html) Or maybe he's only against non-Speedo suits. It's not really clear! :)
I think that about sums it up. The bottom line is Speedo thought they could corner the market with the LZR. They failed because they didn't see other manufacturers coming in to fill the void with cheaper and maybe better suits. I also think they made a big gaffe by pricing the LZR just a little too high. Most people were not willing to shell out $550 for a swimsuit especially one that's only good for a few swims .
Am I missing anything?
Former Member
Legal for triathlon might require a bit of additional explanation here. In triathlons, you can wear a wetsuit in water that is 77 degrees or colder. In 78 degrees or warmer, technical suits are the way to go. At Ironman Hawaii, the water temperature is typically over 80 degrees, so wetsuits are out. I haven't been paying attention the last couple years but I'm sure B70's and LZR's are in vogue...
This is interesting, if the B70 is banned by FINA and by USMS for pool events would it still be banned from the 'non wetsuit' division of USMS OW races?
I'm pretty sure FINAs rules about DISQUALIFICATIONS say
Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help their speed, pace or buoyancy during a race.
Ande
At one point, the East Germans were experimenting with methods of increasing buoyancy without using devices. The added buoyancy was internal. They never solved the problem of sudden uncontrolled loss of that extra buoyancy. However, there was an associated brief increase in thrust.
Wearing just a brief would add a whole new dimension to the effects of drag!
:lmao:
"So, if you are an B cup you can expect to lose 1.5 seconds per 25 in the 50 free, however, if it is breaststroke, you may lose slightly less time... in the backstroke races, well, hell, the girls would be flying everywhere. And who would remember to get the splits anyway!"I see nothing at all wrong with your proposal.
Fresnoid:
I read the same study back in the late 80s. Can we say, "tiny bubbles?" The swimmers were, umm, injected with air (and not by taking a deep breath!) to increase buoyancy during their races.
I also read about an experiment conducted by either the Germans or Russians in the 80s on drag force effects on swimmers. The study actually said that they took female subjects and towed them through the water both shaved and unshaved and both with and without swimsuits to measure and compare drag forces. Before Jimbo asks, it wasn't clear how extensive the shaving and without swimsuits portion of the experiment was conducted...:censor:
Yes I heard cases of swimmers getting pumped up with air just before races.
At one point, the East Germans were experimenting with methods of increasing buoyancy without using devices. The added buoyancy was internal. They never solved the problem of sudden uncontrolled loss of that extra buoyancy. However, there was an associated brief increase in thrust.
The first tech suits came out in 1992 They were viewed with skepticism at first.
I like your theory, but just one point of clarification: I think Phelps only wore a full LZR in the 200 free and maybe the 4X100 relay. For all of the other events, he wore LZR leg skins. I was surprised that during the Olympics, no comment was made that in most events Phelps was lining up against guys in full bodysuits without one on himself. IMO, deep down inside Phelps doesn't particularly like the LZR.
This whole suit thing is a complete debacle. I think the problem started back in 2000 when FINA allowed bodysuits in the first place. We should go back to old school briefs, just to be on the safe side. It's like the movie "Aliens": "nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure."
Yes I heard cases of swimmers getting pumped up with air just before races.
This reminds me of the Foster Farms TV ads where the chickens go to the plastic surgeon's office to get plumped up with salt water! "Very natural." I wish I could post a youtube link, but amazingly I can't find the video there.
I'll quit before I have to wear just a brief!
:bolt:
We've discussed how to keep boys in the sport here in the past, but I don't think anyone suggested forcing women to compete in just briefs. I have a feeling that might do wonders for male participation!
