OK - the "Suits" started the whole thing, so you can say that FINA and the manufacturers are responsible for the entire mess. But, there are ways to handle a situation without creating this silly mess. If you ever read Swimnews, the author Craig Lord, basically makes the suits out to be the devil and he is the Spanish inquisition. Why can't they just voice their opinion and then move on for the good of the sport.
Most main stream journallists have no idea about suits, records and all of that - they take their stories from the coaches and swimmers. The more the coaches and swimmers complain the worse the public, non-swimming perception will be - it's that simple. How about just saying - "I would prefer for the suits to changed - but Worlds are swimmer against swimmer - everybody can wear whatever suit they want and they are all available. In the end it comes down to the swimmer not the suit."
Michael Phelps was not world athlete of the year in 2008, not just because of the suits, but because of all the talk about them !
L'Equipe is now banning any record note in their newspaper and I am sure the coverage of Worlds will be terrible. Well - they are French, but it's still a big blow to the sport.
I don't read speed skaters complaining about a new track being the fastest in the world - they can only set records in certain places. I don't see the track cyclists making a huge affair out of a new faster cycling track that allows athletes to blow away all the records. I did not see the outrage when they changed the backstroke turn rule - how much is that in a 200 back ? About a second ? How much faster is allowing a dolphin kick off the wall in *** ? How much faster is allowing in regular Breaststroke to put your head underwater ??
I think there has to be a way to discuss it and not make it take over the sport -- by the way, I am actually against the suits, I would love for them to go back to regular suits. But at the same time, I also embrace new technology, I have a Blue 70 and a LZR.
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Not necessarily. Check out this excellent and eye opening interview with Brett Hawke.
It's a good point -- but how is this really different from many other sports out there ? Take cycling or triathlons -- are the suits are a bigger difference than the bikes, wheels, helmets, and what have you not ? It's a change - probably not a good change, but nothing that should take away from the athletes. I know they don't have world records in cross country skiing or alpine skiing, but I would say the material is a lot more important there than in swimming - I don't hear them crying. You deal with it and compete with what is available and what you feel good about.
I am guessing 100s of medals have been won and lost because of better equipment. The medal winners should wear and use the latest and greatest allowed in the sport --- FINA is wrong for allowing the stuff.
I want to see Freddy Bousquet, Michael Phelps, Leveuax, Bernard, and Sullivan duke it out in the 100 Free at Worlds -- could not care less what suit they wear.
I want to see Peirsol, Phelps, Lochte and the Japanese kid do battle in the 100 Back - I don't care if they wear leg skins, full bodies or what (By the way - anybody still wearing legskins only should watch Phelps in his last 100 Fly and the interview).
Who wants to see the rematch in the 100 Fly ?
Not necessarily. Check out this excellent and eye opening interview with Brett Hawke.
It's a good point -- but how is this really different from many other sports out there ? Take cycling or triathlons -- are the suits are a bigger difference than the bikes, wheels, helmets, and what have you not ? It's a change - probably not a good change, but nothing that should take away from the athletes. I know they don't have world records in cross country skiing or alpine skiing, but I would say the material is a lot more important there than in swimming - I don't hear them crying. You deal with it and compete with what is available and what you feel good about.
I am guessing 100s of medals have been won and lost because of better equipment. The medal winners should wear and use the latest and greatest allowed in the sport --- FINA is wrong for allowing the stuff.
I want to see Freddy Bousquet, Michael Phelps, Leveuax, Bernard, and Sullivan duke it out in the 100 Free at Worlds -- could not care less what suit they wear.
I want to see Peirsol, Phelps, Lochte and the Japanese kid do battle in the 100 Back - I don't care if they wear leg skins, full bodies or what (By the way - anybody still wearing legskins only should watch Phelps in his last 100 Fly and the interview).
Who wants to see the rematch in the 100 Fly ?
