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
Jeez, I would hope not. It seems like the primary reason to ban the suits is too many records being set. If no records are set next year this would be achieving exactly what they're going for. I'm sure nearly everyone out there realizes they're going to swim slower when they go from a rubber suit to a textile jammer.
Knowing it intellectually in advance and then dealing with it emotionally in real-time are two very different states of mind. What's going to happen to the TV ratings when the headlines are all about how slow everyone's swimming, how Michael & Milorad are both depressed cause they can't crack 50 any more, how Speedo's threatening to pull Bowman's contract because the golden boy's 'washed up' ... call me a skeptic or conspiracy theorist but I think people haven't fully considered the emotional and non-rational implications of this choice.
I think we humans have a very hard time accepting a retrograde in technology in any aspect of our lives ... AOL dial-up anyone? ... and don't imagine we'll deal well with this collectively.
What will be cool, though, is if Biederman still beats Phelps in the 200.
Jeez, I would hope not. It seems like the primary reason to ban the suits is too many records being set. If no records are set next year this would be achieving exactly what they're going for. I'm sure nearly everyone out there realizes they're going to swim slower when they go from a rubber suit to a textile jammer.
Knowing it intellectually in advance and then dealing with it emotionally in real-time are two very different states of mind. What's going to happen to the TV ratings when the headlines are all about how slow everyone's swimming, how Michael & Milorad are both depressed cause they can't crack 50 any more, how Speedo's threatening to pull Bowman's contract because the golden boy's 'washed up' ... call me a skeptic or conspiracy theorist but I think people haven't fully considered the emotional and non-rational implications of this choice.
I think we humans have a very hard time accepting a retrograde in technology in any aspect of our lives ... AOL dial-up anyone? ... and don't imagine we'll deal well with this collectively.
What will be cool, though, is if Biederman still beats Phelps in the 200.
