Craig Lord's rather inflammatory article www.swimnews.com/.../6918 on the possibility that USMS will depart from FINA vis a vis allowed swim suits raises a fundamental issue:
If masters swimming allows a more lenient policy regarding suit technology than FINA swimming, will this help or hurt our status in the swimming world?
I love the high tech suits, and I think FINA has been boneheaded in many ways, but I personally think that the creation of a two-tier system--regular swimming and masters "handicapped" swimming--would be bad for our sport and only marginalize us in the world of athletics.
If the choice comes down to two options--abide by FINA's suit rulings OR permit suits like the B70 for masters (if it is outlawed by FINA for "real" swimmers), which side would you support?
In my opinion USMS must absolutely NOT diverge from FINA on this issue.
Or, since FINA doesn't seem to know where they stand, let me revise this to say "not diverge from FINAs rules for non-masters swimming."
In my opinion USMS must absolutely NOT diverge from FINA on this issue.
Or, since FINA doesn't seem to know where they stand, let me revise this to say "not diverge from FINAs rules for non-masters swimming."
