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?
I just watched the Leonard interview and overall I think he did a good job explaining FINAs position and I do agree with a lot of what he said. Still, there are some inconsistencies. The most glaring was that permeability wasn't addressed in phase I because they didn't want to hurt the suit manufacturers, but then he defends the air trapping argument by saying that FINA isn't in the business of helping or hurting the suit makers. If this isn't clearly biased toward Speedo, I don't know what is.
Probably the most consequential thing he said was that FINA will very likely outlaw permeable materials altogether as of Jan 1, 2010. I wouldn't be too anxious to buy a LZR right now! Although I guess since they wear out after one meet it might not matter. :)
I just watched the Leonard interview and overall I think he did a good job explaining FINAs position and I do agree with a lot of what he said. Still, there are some inconsistencies. The most glaring was that permeability wasn't addressed in phase I because they didn't want to hurt the suit manufacturers, but then he defends the air trapping argument by saying that FINA isn't in the business of helping or hurting the suit makers. If this isn't clearly biased toward Speedo, I don't know what is.
Probably the most consequential thing he said was that FINA will very likely outlaw permeable materials altogether as of Jan 1, 2010. I wouldn't be too anxious to buy a LZR right now! Although I guess since they wear out after one meet it might not matter. :)
