I know there have been numerous threads posted about this and I've read the USMS Masters statement, thanks Ande.
Nevertheless,
I have never swam with these magic suits that has FINA in such a tizzie. I never will swim with them as I joined masters swimming just this year. I guess I missed an era :(. I would like to know how many folks are still racing with the suits (did Rowdy use one in his world record swims this weekend)? In addition, how many folks who set masters world records this year, used the high tech suits?
I know it would be fun to wear one of those suits and easily pull out a time I have no business going at 38 years old. I guess if I went some insane time in the 100 free, I'd have a hard time getting myself back into the mental state to swim knowing that the marks I set will never be attainable by me if I can no longer wear the suit. I think we are going to be very surprised at the swim times produced around the world come January 1, 2010. I think it will be a devastating blow to the sport IMHO. FINA will have to deal with that when that occurs.
So I'm curious how many swims are going to be swum in Atlanta next spring with the tech suits? I bet I'm the only one on the blocks without one like I was at my first meet this year.
I thought it was funny to be rather old school and beat all these guys with the full body batman outfits.
Am I a little envious, sure. I wish I could have worn one when the suits weren't in a state of speculation and then showed people my best times and said, "oh, of course not I wasn't wearing one of those tech suits, no, that was from my honest to goodness hard work"... But I never will if the ruling continues to hold.
I won't ever have an asterisk next to my name.
As long as they are legal, I will use them. I mostly swim USA-S anyways and have to abide by their new set of rules, but if USMS keeps the suits around until the end of SCY season, you can count on me breaking out my b70 for the meet. if the meet were prelims/finals, i would probably swim in a "purist" suit for prelims and put on my tech suit for finals, but since its all timed finals, the b70 will suffice.
I won't ever have an asterisk next to my name.
neither will i. why should i care about an asterix anyways? as long as i swam within the bounds of the rules, I have nothing to be ashamed of.
Hi Graham,
At the 2010 USMS SC Nats in Atlanta most swimmers will wear the fastest legal suits that they can. Many hope that FINAs suit rules from June 1, will be in force, but winds of change are blowing. The issue isn't settled for masters swimmers yet.
If USMS follows USA Swimming & FINA
Men will wear suits like the:
Speedo FS PRO Jammers
or
TYR Tracer Light Jammer
Women will wear suits like the:
Tyr Tracer Light Short John
or the
Speedo FS Pro Recordbreaker Kneeskin
Right now it's a wait and see situation for USMS swimmers. The issue is settled for USA Swimmers & the above suits are legal for USS meets.
Ande
Not sure why, possible oversight, here's the
Reference List for Allowable Swimsuits Under USA Swimming Rule 102.9 (10/16/2009)
Fina's 2010 list
Did anyone notice on the FINA approved list that the Speedo FS Pro jammers were not listed? Wonder why??
I think we are going to be very surprised at the swim times produced around the world come January 1, 2010.
Why do you think anyone will be surprised? Most people know how fast they swam before the suits, so they can use that as their baseline.
The only think surprising (and I wouldn't be too surprised!) would be if people's times don't drop off as much as some seem to think they will.
I won't ever have an asterisk next to my name.
Great. Maybe you can come off your moral high horse sometime, too.
Hi Graham,
At the 2010 USMS SC Nats in Atlanta most swimmers will wear the fastest legal suits that can. Winds of change are blowing but the issue isn't settled for masters swimmers yet.
If USMS follows USA Swimming & FINA
Men will wear suits like the:
Speedo FS PRO Jammers
or
TYR Tracer Light Jammer
Women will wear suits like the:
Tyr Tracer Light Short John
or the
Speedo FS Pro Recordbreaker Kneeskin
Right now it's a wait and see situation.
Ande
Did anyone notice on the FINA approved list that the Speedo FS Pro jammers were not listed? Wonder why??
Not sure why, possible oversight, here's the
Reference List for Allowable Swimsuits Under USA Swimming Rule 102.9 (10/16/2009)
Fina's 2010 list
According to the speedo site, they are working with fina to gain approvel for the fs pro jammer and kneeskin for women. Yet, the recorder breaker is approved. All the same material.
Totally agree with Fort on this issue of more specialized sprint training showing results... finally - after years of overtraining these athletes.
I'm not denying a role by the tech-suits, but it certainly is not the entire explanation.
If anyone can see it demonstrated it should be masters swimmers. They have busy hectic lives with little time to train. If they're serious about swimming faster they make it specific.
Often they resist racing early on thinking they could never hit times close to those swum without the thousands of meters trained. A light bulb goes off unexpectedly in a timed workout swim...
But they do hit times and some times are even faster than ever!
On very little but very specific training.
I come from the 70s where we trained 15-20,000 as drop-dead sprinters. And as a 80s & 90s triathlete - more is better.
Last year, under strained circumstances, I trained my a** off and incorporated dozens of new found technique improvements.
But oh well, all will be chalked up to "the suit".
I know better.
If anything, regardless of the allowed fabric/rubber, I appreciate that "the suit" holds in the jiggles and the deck strutting is bearable to watch :)
QUOTE]But oh well, all will be chalked up to "the suit".
Not "all", a lot though.
Last year, under strained circumstances, I trained my a** off and incorporated dozens of new found technique improvements.
I remember doing that in the 70's. I also remember during meets that my mega-yardage gave me an anger to not get beaten in a tight race. It didn't always work, but it was something to rely on when the going got tough.
Besides, as an adult (age only), I think it was pretty cool that I did swim 15,000+ meters a day when I was child.
