I have been following some the FINA suit talk going on right now and it seems quite possible that they may go back to all textile suits - pre 2008 starting next year. If that happens, how long will some of these records stand ?
Tom Jager did a 21.8 in 1990 ... Popov dropped it to 21.64 in a questionable race ... sub 21 may take 30+ years.
J. Skinner went 49.44 in 1976 --Biondi did a 48.4 in 1988 Hoogenbaand went 47.8 in 2000 .... sub 47 would take another 25 years.
I think I am go to agree with Lefty. I think you will see swimmers body types go back to more slender body types without the tech suits. I know from my own experience, that cutting the water with more mass makes for slower swimmer. Put a tech suit on me and I go faster because I am more streamlined. Less gut in the way. It may be a while before we see the records set by tech suits fall.
Was that Lefty's suggestion? Thought he was being sarcastic .... Lack of a tech suit doesn't seem to have impeded the track stars.
I know to a moral certainty that I am faster now that I'm stronger. Being skinnier would theoretically be nice, but would not be conducive to faster swimming. I have no gut involved though.
I think I am go to agree with Lefty. I think you will see swimmers body types go back to more slender body types without the tech suits. I know from my own experience, that cutting the water with more mass makes for slower swimmer. Put a tech suit on me and I go faster because I am more streamlined. Less gut in the way. It may be a while before we see the records set by tech suits fall.
Was that Lefty's suggestion? Thought he was being sarcastic .... Lack of a tech suit doesn't seem to have impeded the track stars.
I know to a moral certainty that I am faster now that I'm stronger. Being skinnier would theoretically be nice, but would not be conducive to faster swimming. I have no gut involved though.
