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.
Former Member
I disagree with the ban of the suits. Why stop advances in technology so that old records can stand. It makes no sense to me. Should runners no longer be able to wear shoes, cyclists go back to using bikes they used 20 years ago, pole vaulters start using bamboo poles again (the list goes on and on)?
I disagree with the ban of the suits. Why stop advances in technology so that old records can stand. It makes no sense to me. Should runners no longer be able to wear shoes, cyclists go back to using bikes they used 20 years ago, pole vaulters start using bamboo poles again (the list goes on and on)?
Why ban the suits? To level the playing field. To have athletes compete against each other without the aid of technology giving one athlete an advantage. It gives one athlete an advantage over the other. Each suit is different, and not every athlete has the means to obtain these faster suits. So, if you ban the suits, you rule out the "unknown" (suit technology) and you have swimmers competing against each other on a more level playing field.
What makes it wrong is, you can have two identical athletes, same abilities, same heart and desire to win, and if one has an advantage because of the special suit they are wearing, I don't think that makes it fair. This trickles down into youth leagues as well. Now it becomes a social and economic issue, where some athletes can afford these suits, while others cannot. If this continues, those athletes who cannot afford the suits, might not be fast enough to earn scholarships compared to other athletes. You see where this is going?
It is simple to level the playing field by banning the suits.
Kukors was trainig hard in past year, she was frustrated when she didn't qualify for Bejing. Now is her time, whatever suit was there, she prepared perfectly to destroy field. You can see her, working mashine...everyone wore jaked, arena, lzr...but Ariana left behind everyone. No and no advantage of her before this field. Going back to brief will make maybe interesting again, only not for masters swimming. I guarantee it!
What makes it wrong is, you can have two identical athletes, same abilities, same heart and desire to win..., .
See, here is part of the problem. There are no such things in life as identical athletes, same abilities, same heart. There are ALWAYS differences in people(athletes or otherwise) banning a suit(s) don't level the playing field.
Nothing ever truly levels the playing field.
My first year swimming high school, my 500 Free time improved by 30 seconds in less than 2 months. Combination of harder swim workouts and more dryland training. Maybe Kukors benefitted from being around the Olympians and Nationals veterans, people to measure against and to get advice on being efficient with time outside the pool.
This is just silly. Comparing a first year swimmer with a 30 second drop to a world class athlete and a 4 second drop.
BTW went to another site and it was mentioned that she switched from TYR to Jaked between Nats and Worlds.
I like the way Kirk framed this. Being able to make a living in the sport is good for everyone if you ascribe to the high-tide raises all boats theory. But that subjects you to the risk of signing a contract that relegates you to wearing a slower suit. So if you do not want the suit being a determining factor of who wins the race you need to control the suit-race.
So was Kukors the only person in the finals with the tech suit? If they all had them why didn't they all get records?
I cannot believe a swimmer could be swimming in the World Championships and NOT have access to a tech suit. Enlighten me if I'm wrong.
You have confused the issue because this thread has been hi-jacked into a suit debate. (I have particpated in the hi-jack so oh well!). I am simply nominating this swim as the biggest completely-out-of-no-where / are you freaking kidding me swim.
But for your enlightenment, I think Stephanie Rice is contractually obligated to wear Speedo.
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.
In her interview after smashing the WR, she says she focused on the small things, getting off the walls faster, lifting more, ect. She doesn't mention the Jaked suit, and nor should she.
In her interview after smashing the WR, she says she focused on the small things, getting off the walls faster, lifting more, ect. She doesn't mention the Jaked suit, and nor should she.
uhh..okay
You have confused the issue because this thread has been hi-jacked into a suit debate. (I have particpated in the hi-jack so oh well!). I am simply nominating this swim as the biggest completely-out-of-no-where / are you freaking kidding me swim.
But for your enlightenment, I think Stephanie Rice is contractually obligated to wear Speedo.
Speedo decided to allow its contracted athletes to wear whatever suit they want. Libby Trickett, for instance, was wearing an Arena suit during the 4x100 free relay.
