Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

rtodd — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:23:29 GMT

Unsanctioned events can be a dissapointment. YouTube - Michael Johnson Races Donovan Bailey 150m

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Former Member — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:12:49 GMT

Anyone remember Keith Bell & Sandy Neilsen-Bell? www.americanswimmingassociation.com/ i swam with keith and sandy yesterday at mashpee. i love what they are doing, but their approach is certainly a low tech one. the ASA philosophy as i understand it is "if it doesn't make you faster; you shouldn't be DQed for it..... but, certainly anti tech-suit anti wet-suit (oh yea... anti drafting too!) PS the highland lakes challenge is the best way i know of to spend a week in the austin area! clear your calendars the last week of october.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Former Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:50:30 GMT

It would be pretty silly if it did. Swimming competitions are about swimmer vs swimmer. Not swimmer with suit X vs swimmer with suit Y. FINA should have gone further IMHO and banned all suits apart from the traditional ones before Thorpe started out with that suit years ago... David

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Former Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:00:26 GMT

The new standards wouldn't stop with suits. It could be interesting and fun to see what would arise. Shouldn't be an Olympic sport though.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

tjrpatt — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:38:59 GMT

Is there a similar type league in Track and Field? Or skiing?

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

rodent — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:17:07 GMT

I don't think there is enought money in swimming for a pro league. But they could certainly start their own series of swims with prize money and allow their suits to be worn by the competitors. They could start an organization to compete with FINA, with National and World Championships. They would have to hire officials and rent pools etc. Other sports have done it! If FINA bans their suits they might have to do it. I wouldn't mind picking up some change for a top 10 finish in my age group in the in the 2010 BLUE70/ARENA CLASSIC.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Former Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:42:23 GMT

FAST SWIMMING by PSYCHED AND EXCITED SWIMMERS IS "SEXY". And I mean sexy as in -> people are attracted to it and will begin to care, watch and follow the sport. do you think people would follow beach volleyball if the sport was "advancing" with ankle to neck attire? for a sport to be commercially viable it would have to attract hoards of "non-swimmers" as fans (ask them what they think of watching a 1500) how many commercials did the broadcasters squeeze into those 15 minute races during the olympics? how many folks on this forum sat through the entire 10k last olympics?........ i did.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Patrick W. Brundage — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:26:44 GMT

Anyone remember Keith Bell & Sandy Neilsen-Bell? When I was a young whipper-snapper swimmer, Keith used to be brought in (by our club's then head coach, Terry Laughlin) for guest lectures. He was GREAT!

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Former Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:44:43 GMT

The analogy would be much more similar to powerlifting for me. There are different "leagues" for powerlifting that allow different types of equipment to be used. I'm sure there are others much more knowledgeable about powerlifting who could comment on this.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Former Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:34:58 GMT

there are many aquatic sports that are equipment dependent. i have seen video of people racing with mono fins and air tanks; free diving has lots of categories that include both assisted and non assisted, folks have used cages and wetsuits to assist with long distance swims, etc. i don't think there could be enough money in it unless some "extreme" element were injected. lets face it, watching people move 2 - 4 miles per hour just isn't going to attract much attention.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

chowmi — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:43:32 GMT

Anyone remember Keith Bell & Sandy Neilsen-Bell? www.americanswimmingassociation.com/

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Redbird Alum — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:19:34 GMT

... Old thinking and good ol' boys rarely open up the creative vision and new opportunities. ... I resemble the first half of this remark, :cane: but I'm all for the new stuff. Bring it on, it makes the sport more interesting! :bouncing:

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:47:04 GMT

FAST SWIMMING by PSYCHED AND EXCITED SWIMMERS IS "SEXY". And I mean sexy as in -> people are attracted to it and will begin to care, watch and follow the sport. I have NEVER watched a great 1500 or a 50 freestyle race and thought... OMG they're only moving 2-4 miles per hour, how boring. NEVER! Somehow I find it so very interesting that those of you who think that watching fast swimming or good racing at any level, could be boring - are the same swimmers fighting to hold our sport down! Old thinking and good ol' boys rarely open up the creative vision and new opportunities. Which is exactly what could make swimming even more exciting!

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

knelson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:58:51 GMT

I really don't see how tech suits make the sport "sexier" or more exciting. It's exactly the same sport, just with faster suits. I don't think Joe Six-Pack is going to be more excited by a 20 second 50 free than he will be by a 21 second 50 free.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:47:26 GMT

As an example. Some of you keep up with the terrific swimming website: www.FloSwimming.com We love it - think it captures some cutting edge swim news, workouts, technique, coaches and events. But if you want to look a some more serious Olympic Sport coverage, pull up: www.flotrack.com There is money to be made. And world class athletes should be able to support themselves. Coaches as well. But it will take the federations and organizations to change. Break open their vision of the future. All need to be creative and willing to make events and racing exciting - and interesting for spectators and the media. (dare I call it "sexy" without comments about Lochte in a white brief on the awards stand?) As it is, American track & field and the open water swimmers have to travel the world or at least to Europe for cash awards for racing. At this point, it seems the powers that be in swimming, want to keep the sport buried in the ways of the past and its glory days. And hey, I swam during those glory days. They were great. But not the end all for our great sport. We can do better for all involved.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

rodent — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:45:09 GMT

Is there a similar type league in Track and Field? Or skiing? Two examples of upstarts competing and beating the establishment: The AFL was started in the 60's and competed with the NFL for a decade. When Joe Namath and the JETS beat the Colts in the 1969 Super Bowl, the NFL agreed to accept the AFL into it's league as equal partners. Now we have the NFL, consisting of the AFC (mostly old AFL teams) and the NFC (mostly old NFL teams). The ABA was absorbed by the NBA a few years later. Let's hope for a commonsense resolution to the suit ratification issue. I am surprised that the matter was not quickly resolved.

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

orca1946 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:43:19 GMT

That might work. I would like to see some of our swimmers with a big contract to swim !!! I am open , at present , if any large corp. wants to sponsor me & give me suits & clothing to wear !!:applaud::D

RE: Could this happen to swimming whereas suit companies like

knelson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:23:28 GMT

The situation is so much different I don't think any comparison between Formula One and FINA makes sense. Suit manufacturers are in the market selling suits to thousands of swimmers. How many F1 teams are there? Ten? Not to mention, and I posted the same over there, I think the day that swimming can be compared to F1 racing with a straight face is a grim day for the sport of swimming. F1 is probably the ultimate technological sport. It's at least as much about the cars as it is about the drivers. Swimming needs to be about the swimmers.