I second everything Chris says above.
As to the argument about FINA's edict putting swimming behind other sports in term of disallowing technological advances, I think swimming is different than other sports commonly cited (tennis, golf, NASCAR, etc.). Swimming has always been about the swimmer's interaction with the water. We don't NEED suits to compete, only for modesty. In tennis, golf, and NASCAR, there is no sport without the racket, club, or car. Therefore, technological advances in the equipment one needs to compete are natural. In swimming, technological advances in the equipment we do need to compete (like pool construction and lane ropes) are a natural part of the sport in the same way they are for the other sports mentioned. But, the suit is a different story in my mind. We don't need any more suit than is necessary for modesty and when we do add more, it changes the way we interact with the water.
I second everything Chris says above.
As to the argument about FINA's edict putting swimming behind other sports in term of disallowing technological advances, I think swimming is different than other sports commonly cited (tennis, golf, NASCAR, etc.). Swimming has always been about the swimmer's interaction with the water. We don't NEED suits to compete, only for modesty. In tennis, golf, and NASCAR, there is no sport without the racket, club, or car. Therefore, technological advances in the equipment one needs to compete are natural. In swimming, technological advances in the equipment we do need to compete (like pool construction and lane ropes) are a natural part of the sport in the same way they are for the other sports mentioned. But, the suit is a different story in my mind. We don't need any more suit than is necessary for modesty and when we do add more, it changes the way we interact with the water.
