Forbes Carlile, legendary swim coach from Australia, writes about Mr. Consolo who wants FINA in 2010 to ban all swim suits not made from "woven textiles". mjm
"If the world record has been set in a suit which will be illegal after Jan 1st 2010, then the fastest time made in a woven textile suit (before or after 2008/9) should be noted next to the world record until the "textile" time stands alone as the record.
Forbes Carlile"
While I admire this truly legendary coach, reductio ad absurdum leads one to suggest that there be further adjudication of records to "textile" time vs. "nekkid" time.
That guy who writes for swimnews.com really needs to improve his writing skills. I don't care about his opinions. He's entitled to them. But, he would be wise to go and take writing classes if he wants to be more convincing. Or hire an editor...something. I can never get past his writing style to actually hear what he's saying.
If he would give credit to the athletes for swims they did and didn't mock them for what they were wearing, then more people might respect him. He is entitled to his opinion on suits but I think he is extremely rude in regards to the athletes preformance, esp. foreign athletes.
Are the new wet suits soon coming to our pools??
What scientic proof does anyone have to call the suits "wet suits" Has anyone actually done any true testing to see if they really add in buoyance?
Putting on a suit, getting in the water and saying "i felt like i was floating" doesnt' count as actual testing. What one feels and what is actually happening could, may very well be different.
I don't know if the suits float or not. I just think it is silly to say they "float" without proof that is avaiable for everyone to study.
Forbes Carlile, legendary swim coach from Australia, writes about Mr. Consolo who wants FINA in 2010 to ban all swim suits not made from "woven textiles". mjm
Bartolo Consolo, Honorary Secretary of FINA, is asking all swimming federations in a mail vote to agree that from 1 January 2010 competitive swimmers may only use suits made from woven textiles. The federations will almost certainly agree with the Consolo proposition, meaning that all the new generation performance-enhancing suits that appeared from 2008 will be banned from use in competition. FINA will therefore be acknowledging its mistake in allowing these suits to be used during 2008 and 2009.
While this is good news, if Mr Consolo's proposal is adopted that will leave the issue unresolved as to what to do with the unprecedented number of world and other records set in suits which were clearly constructed to be performance-enhancing.
Some of the record times set this year are yet to be ratified and were made in suits which were not approved under current FINA by-laws. However, these by-laws were adopted as a "quick fix" by FINA in March in a move which has since been widely discredited. These by-laws recognise records in the Speedo LZRs but reject those set in other suits used this year because FINA now opts to believe the newer suits may be faster than the LZRs. However the 2009 records set in these later suits rationally should be ratified together with 2008 times.
It has been argued that the East German doping period provides a precedent in that FINA allowed these tainted records to remain without any note as to the circumstances of they circumstandces of they occurring in During the German's doping period. However it should be remembered that whereas it was not known for certain that doping played a part in every record set by an East German, we do know that every record set in the fast suits was performance-enhanced. The argument of precedence therefore is not strictly tenable , and is not a good reason to justify inaction which would allow obvious unfairness, which can be equitably righted,thus preventing staining of the sport.
To honour outstanding swimmers past, present and future; including those who made records in all the performance-enhancing suits worn in 2008 and 2009, the following recommendations should be adopted:
1. All world records which are known to have been set in suits which will be illegal from next year be recognised as records and be marked with an asterisk to acknowledge assisted swims.
2. If the world record has been set in a suit which will be illegal after Jan 1st 2010, then the fastest time made in a woven textile suit (before or after 2008/9) should be noted next to the world record until the "textile" time stands alone as the record.
Forbes Carlile
Wookie, Wookie, Wookie. I know they float they do not need to be tested. No study needed. Divers who wear wet suits to dive need lead weights to help them go underwater. My old wet suit was a 5/8th inch thick neoprene. I had to work hard to get underwater.
What scientic proof does anyone have to call the suits "wet suits" Has anyone actually done any true testing to see if they really add in buoyance?
Putting on a suit, getting in the water and saying "i felt like i was floating" doesnt' count as actual testing. What one feels and what is actually happening could, may very well be different.
I don't know if the suits float or not. I just think it is silly to say they "float" without proof that is avaiable for everyone to study.
Wookie, Wookie, Wookie. I know they float they do not need to be tested. No study needed. Divers who wear wet suits to dive need lead weights to help them go underwater. My old wet suit was a 5/8th inch thick neoprene. I had to work hard to get underwater.
You may know a lot of things and have probably forgotten even more, but you don't know if the tech suits floats like a wet suit.
Wookie, Wookie, Wookie. I know they float they do not need to be tested. No study needed. Divers who wear wet suits to dive need lead weights to help them go underwater. My old wet suit was a 5/8th inch thick neoprene. I had to work hard to get underwater.
The question was not whether or not wetsuits float. Instead it was whether or not the new swimsuits float.
A wetsuit is made a neoprene closed cell foam. It is designed to trap air for temperature insulation. It will also float in varying degrees depending on the thickness of the neoprene.
The new suits are typically made of lycra-like material coated with a rubber-like film. The coating is not closed cell foam.
The question was not whether or not wetsuits float. Instead it was whether or not the new swimsuits float.
A wetsuit is made a neoprene closed cell foam. It is designed to trap air for temperature insulation. It will also float in varying degrees depending on the thickness of the neoprene.
The new suits are typically made of lycra-like material coated with a rubber-like film. The coating is not closed cell foam.
the trap air thing is also silly.... of course the suits trap air. even my speedo endurance suits trap air.
we have entered the era of anything goes, but there will continue to be petty little semantic arguments over what constitutes "air trapping" and floatation. scientists will devise ridiculous testing proceedures and lawyers will argue over their fairness..... and this will be called progress and good for the sport!
OY VEY!
