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.
OK, OK, OK I broke down and bought some crack.
So I wore a suit in a meters meet December 4-6. Yes, a full length long john suit from Finis. I got it for $60.
I dove in for warm up without a taper. I got a deep tissue massage the day before. I only swim a max of 6-7000 meters a week. I only can swim twice a week because of my demanding job.
I don't know who has had this experience but I haven't swam competitively in about 11 years. The moment I dove in with that suit, I felt like I was shaved and tapered. I recognized the feeling immediately. My results also reflected the aid of this suit. I went nearly as fast as the year I swam my last masters meet sometime in 1998.
I am convinced that the suit is a cheating aid. Period. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with this. Either we move forward with the suits or we go back to the good ole days of greek pickle hammocks where shaving my hairy body every year will be painful as the chest hair pokes into my shirts as it grows back in the first month after a month. I loved not having to shave my body with that suit on.
That is the big plus for me and one of the reasons I like the suits. I'm partial either way in FINA's decision. I liked going that fast. I have a lot more in my tank too. I feel I can go as fast or faster than I ever have once I get used to the suit. We will see.
Ande, any word from FINA lately?
this is the last comment from USMS:
U.S. Masters Swimming issued a Statement on Swimsuits on 10/11/09
OK, OK, OK I broke down and bought some crack.
So I wore a suit in a meters meet December 4-6. Yes, a full length long john suit from Finis. I got it for $60.
. . .
Ande, any word from FINA lately?
The approved suit list grew over the last few days. Three styles of YingFa's and a bunch more YingFa's before the Jan 10th deadline.
Fina is testing these Yingfa suits
Male
9402 approved
9205
9102
Female
937 approved
925 approved
955
912
982
929
