Before 2009 Kukors best 200 IM was 2:10.40 World class for sure, but still a cut behind the top women in the event. Today she goes a 2:06.15 and in two days shaves more than a second off the world record. I nominate this swim, just ahead of Bousquets 20.94, as the most ridiculous suited up swim of all time.
One of things that I enjoy about swimming is that you really don't need a lot of expensive equipment, at most you need a suit, goggles, cap, kick board, paddles and pull buoy, maybe fins, total cost maybe $120.00. Gosh just a few years ago, if you wanted to race, you just needed a suit, googles and maybe a cap. So historically, the entry into the sport is not expensive, now if you want to compete at any reasonable level, you need a $500 suit, if this trend continues it will discourage a significant number of people from competing.
For example, look at any high school sectional meet, everybody in the finals is wearing the high tech suit, if you don't have the right suit, you are not competitive
I suspect that the same thing is happening at Masters meet, the swimmers wearing the high tech suits will swim faster,
One of things that I enjoy about swimming is that you really don't need a lot of expensive equipment, at most you need a suit, goggles, cap, kick board, paddles and pull buoy, maybe fins, total cost maybe $120.00. Gosh just a few years ago, if you wanted to race, you just needed a suit, googles and maybe a cap. So historically, the entry into the sport is not expensive, now if you want to compete at any reasonable level, you need a $500 suit, if this trend continues it will discourage a significant number of people from competing.
For example, look at any high school sectional meet, everybody in the finals is wearing the high tech suit, if you don't have the right suit, you are not competitive
I suspect that the same thing is happening at Masters meet, the swimmers wearing the high tech suits will swim faster,
