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.
Parents
Former Member
Imagine you had gone (say) 51.0 in jammers and 49.5 with the suit. Doesn't the 2nd time make you happier, even though you knew it was tech-aided? Kind of fun to break 50 seconds, isn't it? And maybe you haven't gone that fast since (say) college. Not quite such an old fart anymore, right? And you look cooler (and thinner), too.
When I was in the 55-59 age group I was swimming 2:37 for 200 fly with a full bodysuit. This was much faster than when I was 20 years old.
Everything you've said, Chris, hits the nail on the head.
US masters swimmers should be very careful that they are not disadvantaged in future. FINA have stipulated that the new rules concerning bodysuits do not apply to masters. Masters swimmers in Europe will have a great advantage over you guys across the pond if you make a stand and apply your own rules for wearing suits in competition.
Imagine you had gone (say) 51.0 in jammers and 49.5 with the suit. Doesn't the 2nd time make you happier, even though you knew it was tech-aided? Kind of fun to break 50 seconds, isn't it? And maybe you haven't gone that fast since (say) college. Not quite such an old fart anymore, right? And you look cooler (and thinner), too.
When I was in the 55-59 age group I was swimming 2:37 for 200 fly with a full bodysuit. This was much faster than when I was 20 years old.
Everything you've said, Chris, hits the nail on the head.
US masters swimmers should be very careful that they are not disadvantaged in future. FINA have stipulated that the new rules concerning bodysuits do not apply to masters. Masters swimmers in Europe will have a great advantage over you guys across the pond if you make a stand and apply your own rules for wearing suits in competition.
