Some Aging Competitors Call High-Tech Swimsuits Dirty Pool
Former Member
Wall Street Journal article: online.wsj.com/.../SB125721159786824325.html
Michael Mann of Centennial, Colo., flew past his opponents, swaddled shoulder-to-ankle in a black neoprene bodysuit. Mr. Mann, 55, won the 400-meter individual medley race and set a world record for his age group, 55 to 59. Mr. Mann set new world marks in the 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyle while Mr. Evans steamed.
I guess my problem is that the only compelling argument that I can see for the suit ban is the economic argument - and I think this argument is weak.
Granted, the new suits made a difference in the new records. But by the same token, the "new" starting blocks made a difference in years past, and no one cared because we all use the same blocks. Similarly, the "new" *** stroke rules meant faster times - but no one objected because everyone had the same rules. I would prefer we go back to old-school backstroke turns, for aesthetic reasons of course (that, and the fact that my poorly executed "new" turns may actually cost me time rather than saving time).
Why should the change in suits be any different from the other changes? (Well, to sum up: the new suits are different, the line of reasoning goes, because of the economic argument that says they gives an unfair advantage to some swimmers - to which I respond that if we really cared about making everyone equal and if we really wanted to eliminate the advantages that some people have over others, then we would impose a limit on the biggest difference-maker in swimming, which is training and work ethic; this, of course, is contrary to the most fundamental spirit of our sport and thus is a dumb idea).
I guess my problem is that the only compelling argument that I can see for the suit ban is the economic argument - and I think this argument is weak.
Granted, the new suits made a difference in the new records. But by the same token, the "new" starting blocks made a difference in years past, and no one cared because we all use the same blocks. Similarly, the "new" *** stroke rules meant faster times - but no one objected because everyone had the same rules. I would prefer we go back to old-school backstroke turns, for aesthetic reasons of course (that, and the fact that my poorly executed "new" turns may actually cost me time rather than saving time).
Why should the change in suits be any different from the other changes? (Well, to sum up: the new suits are different, the line of reasoning goes, because of the economic argument that says they gives an unfair advantage to some swimmers - to which I respond that if we really cared about making everyone equal and if we really wanted to eliminate the advantages that some people have over others, then we would impose a limit on the biggest difference-maker in swimming, which is training and work ethic; this, of course, is contrary to the most fundamental spirit of our sport and thus is a dumb idea).
