If the full body rubber suits do end up getting banned, why should USMS follow their lead on this issue? (i.e. assuming the suits would continue to be manufactured).
Isn't Masters mostly for each individual to pursue what they want and the level they want out of the sport?
If the full body suit is preferred by many USMS participants, why not satisfy the base by keeping it available?
What's really the point of forcing old USMS swimmers out of their girdles if FINA bans them?
John Smith
Parents
Former Member
Met with similar protest as we are seeing in swimming or just applauded?
In general there was a brief period of unrest, but usually among the athletes more than the fans. For example, when steel poles gave way to fiberglass (1960's) it changed the paradigm for the athletes. A steel pole favored vaulters who were extremely strong in the shoulders and back since you had to "muscle" your way around the fact that the pole was stiff and didn't aid you like more flexible materials. The fiberglass poles placed more of a premium on gymnastics-type skills as the pole stored alot more energy by bending more, but that meant it needed to be finessed more.
With the current state of the poles, speed and gymnastics are the primary skills needed.
The fans, other than some purists, usually LOVED it - they liked seeing people go higher and higher. However, keep in mind that pole vaulting has always been viewed as a bit of a "synthetic event", so I don't think technology changed were as jarring to the fans.
Perhaps a better analogy in T&F is when *** Fosbury introduced the "flop" style of high jumping. Even though it did not involve any technology changes, many people were against it, for various reasons (safety concerns, aesthetics, purity, etc.) The athletes, however, loved it if they could master it. There hasn't been a world class non-flopper in close to 30 years.
-LBJ
Met with similar protest as we are seeing in swimming or just applauded?
In general there was a brief period of unrest, but usually among the athletes more than the fans. For example, when steel poles gave way to fiberglass (1960's) it changed the paradigm for the athletes. A steel pole favored vaulters who were extremely strong in the shoulders and back since you had to "muscle" your way around the fact that the pole was stiff and didn't aid you like more flexible materials. The fiberglass poles placed more of a premium on gymnastics-type skills as the pole stored alot more energy by bending more, but that meant it needed to be finessed more.
With the current state of the poles, speed and gymnastics are the primary skills needed.
The fans, other than some purists, usually LOVED it - they liked seeing people go higher and higher. However, keep in mind that pole vaulting has always been viewed as a bit of a "synthetic event", so I don't think technology changed were as jarring to the fans.
Perhaps a better analogy in T&F is when *** Fosbury introduced the "flop" style of high jumping. Even though it did not involve any technology changes, many people were against it, for various reasons (safety concerns, aesthetics, purity, etc.) The athletes, however, loved it if they could master it. There hasn't been a world class non-flopper in close to 30 years.
-LBJ
