When will the suits be gone...

Half of the FS Pro is actually 2 layers. This could be why FINA has not approved it yet.

according to that list, the WR dropped a greater amount in a 5 month period from feb 2, 1980 to august 15, 1980 (.95 sec) than it did from feb 17, 2008 to april 26, 2009 (.62), a 14 month period. in another 6 months with the suits that were out, we would have seen another leveling of times (i believe).

Its no wonder swimming was so damn fast and difficult in the late 80s and 90s. The suits give everyone the edge to just simply erase those amazing years where 10-20000m a workout were the norm. Really? That was "amazing"? Did it occur to you that deviating from those "amazing" years with race pace training and less yardage has actually improved sprinting times? And decreased burnout and injury? Suits are fast, yes, but swimmers are just as amazing with the suits as without.

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. Which suit exactly would allow you to do this?

Half of the FS Pro is actually 2 layers. This could be why FINA has not approved it yet. "FINA has also approved the Speedo FS Pro recordbreaker, Speedo Fastskin FSII and Speedo Aquablade suits. We are seeking further guidance from FINA to gain approval of the Speedo FS Pro jammer and recordbreaker kneeskin." But this is what I don't get...if the fs pro recordbreaker is approved, then why would the jammer and kneeskin? Aren't they all made out of the same materials?

Hey folks I didn't mean to sound like a pompous ass, really, I had no intention, that's the problem with anonymous boards. I summarized at the end that I would wear one if they were legal. I also stressed that if I pulled off a 44 or 45 in the 100yd free with the suit on and then went a full second slower without it, I'd be a little difused. Look at the men's 50m free world record progression. It's quite staggering to see the effect of the new suits. # Time Name Nationality Date 1 23.86 Jonty Skinner South Africa August 14, 1976 2 23.74 Joe Bottom United States July 3, 1977 3 23.72 Ron Manganiello United States July 29, 1978 4 23.70 Klaus Steinbach West Germany July 23, 1979 5 23.66 Chris Cavanaugh United States February 2, 1980 6 23.12 Chris Cavanaugh United States April 10, 1980 7 22.96 Rowdy Gaines United States April 10, 1980 8 22.83 Bruce Stahl United States April 10, 1980 8= 22.83 Joe Bottom United States August 15, 1980 9 22.71 Joe Bottom United States August 15, 1980 10 22.54 Robin Leamy United States August 15, 1981 11 22.52 Dano Halsall Switzerland July 21, 1985 12 22.40 Tom Jager United States December 6, 1985 13 22.33 Matt Biondi United States June 26, 1986 13 22.33 Matt Biondi United States July 30, 1987 14 22.32 Tom Jager United States August 13, 1987 15 22.23 Tom Jager United States March 25, 1988 22.18 Peter Williams South Africa April 10, 1988 16 22.14 Matt Biondi United States September 24, 1988 17 22.12 Tom Jager United States August 20, 1989 18 21.98 Tom Jager United States March 24, 1990 19 21.81 Tom Jager United States March 24, 1990 20 21.64 Alexander Popov Russia June 1, 2000 21 21.56 Eamon Sullivan Australia February 17, 2008 22 21.50 Alain Bernard France March 23, 2008 23 21.41 Eamon Sullivan Australia March 27, 2008 24 21.28 Eamon Sullivan Australia March 28, 2008 25 20.94 Frédérick Bousquet France April 26, 2009 Everything is progressing normally until 1990, ten years later Popov finally breaks Jager's record, then nothing until 4 swims in the spring of 2008. I guess FINA said something had to be done to keep the sport interesting. my.02. Its no wonder swimming was so damn fast and difficult in the late 80s and 90s. The suits give everyone the edge to just simply erase those amazing years where 10-20000m a workout were the norm. I have no moral high horse, my past dictates that. I shouldn't have put out the asterisk comment, sorry. But seriously if this is considered a mistake, then it should be noted and it will be evident 50 years from now that the suits were the cause of such incredible feats.

I'm just getting back into this swimming deal after a 20 year "lay off".And have been watching this suit debate because I dont want to buy something I cant use next year. So what I am seeing from the people who are defending these suits are saying. It isnt the suit. Its better training techniques that are producing these faster times. So why would you want to spend $500 on a suit that isnt faster? I'm having a hard time justifing $130 for a pair of Jammers for racing only!

I'm just getting back into this swimming deal after a 20 year "lay off".And have been watching this suit debate because I dont want to buy something I cant use next year. So what I am seeing from the people who are defending these suits are saying. It isnt the suit. Its better training techniques that are producing these faster times. So why would you want to spend $500 on a suit that isnt faster? I'm having a hard time justifing $130 for a pair of Jammers for racing only! some of the speed IS due to the suit, the same way if you were a pair of trunks in practice and then wear a speedo in a meet you will swim faster. for me, its that i don't think its right to stifle technological advances in a sport, that and the fact that FINA is totally imcompetent when it comes to dealing with this issue. their knee-jerk reaction to send swimming back 20 years was (again my opinion) not the way to go about curbing the tech suit "arms race".

So what I am seeing from the people who are defending these suits are saying. It isnt the suit. No, you're wrong. No one is saying the suit isn't a factor.

So If I beat you in a Jammer and you go out and buy a $500 "tech suit" and you beat me, and I go out and buy a $500 "tech" suit and beat you back. Whats the difference? The only "winner" is the place that sold the suits. I just dont see a reason for being against the ban for that reason alone. Maybe I'm just crazy but, I cant afford that kind of suit. So does that mean I get to get my butt kicked buy guys who can, just because they can afford one? Like I said I'm just getting back into this deal and trying to understand the reasoning. Not trying to ruffle any feathers here.:^) But in the meantime you've both gone faster. Possibly youve equalled or bettered times that you did when much younger. Even though intellectually you know that the suit helped, (a) you're not sure how much and (b) it is exciting to see the faster time, regardless. 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. At least, that's part of what I think happens. Other reasons I've heard: not having to shave (for men), and being able to swim fairly fast in-season. And some people are just gear-oriented.