Some Aging Competitors Call High-Tech Swimsuits Dirty Pool

So I'll bite: what is it that you think REALLY bugs us about the suits? 1) Costs pt1: though I think this is irrelevant on the elite level, but anything that creates a financial obstacle for the sport is a bad thing. 2) Availability: slightly irrelevant on the elite level. JS got to wear a LZR at Nationals a full year before anyone else because he kissed Rowdy's ass. In fact, some might argue that creating demand by shortening supply is smart business. Is there a place for that in sports? 3) Historical: yeah, it bothers me that my swim heroes growing up are completely obliterated. 4) Reliability of the suit: Alshamer didn't final at the Olympics because her LZR busted. That sucks. I don't think anyone could tear my FINIS amphibian, but it has huge threading/more drag. 5) Contracts pt 1: Germans had to wear Adidas in the Olympics. Someone said something to the effect of "if a swimmer makes a bad business decision too bad for them." Was it too bad Beidermann that he was relegated to an Adidas and thus didn't medal in Beijing? Do we really hold him accountable for that? 6) Contracts pt 2: It is good for the entire sport of swimming that people can actually make a living doing it. A "bad" business decision implies that there are hundreds of sponsorships available and millions of dollars. That is the case with Phelps but not for others. For the sport to be a viable profession, there needs to be no risk that signing with a major suit manufacturer will inhibit your performance. 7) Dolphin2 would literally have nothing to contribute without the techsuit debate. 8) Cost pt2: I have no problem with an adult dropping $600 on a suit. I did it myself. I swam next to a guy wearing jammers. That was his choice. Maybe I have more money to burn than him, maybe he has different priorities who knows who cares. The level I am at is 99% about oneself: doing your best and living with your own choices. But for that other 1% I wish that we all had the same suit and therefore, honestly, I don't think paying $300 or $600 is a good thing.

So I'll bite: what is it that you think REALLY bugs us about the suits? 1) Costs pt1: though I think this is irrelevant on the elite level, but anything that creates a financial obstacle for the sport is a bad thing. 2) Availability: slightly irrelevant on the elite level. JS got to wear a LZR at Nationals a full year before anyone else because he kissed Rowdy's ass. In fact, some might argue that creating demand by shortening supply is smart business. Is there a place for that in sports? 3) Historical: yeah, it bothers me that my swim heroes growing up are completely obliterated. 4) Reliability of the suit: Alshamer didn't final at the Olympics because her LZR busted. That sucks. I don't think anyone could tear my FINIS amphibian, but it has huge threading/more drag. 5) Contracts pt 1: Germans had to wear Adidas in the Olympics. Someone said something to the effect of "if a swimmer makes a bad business decision too bad for them." Was it too bad Beidermann that he was relegated to an Adidas and thus didn't medal in Beijing? Do we really hold him accountable for that? 6) Contracts pt 2: It is good for the entire sport of swimming that people can actually make a living doing it. A "bad" business decision implies that there are hundreds of sponsorships available and millions of dollars. That is the case with Phelps but not for others. For the sport to be a viable profession, there needs to be no risk that signing with a major suit manufacturer will inhibit your performance. 7) Dolphin2 would literally have nothing to contribute without the techsuit debate. 8) Cost pt2: I have no problem with an adult dropping $600 on a suit. I did it myself. I swam next to a guy wearing jammers. That was his choice. Maybe I have more money to burn than him, maybe he has different priorities who knows who cares. The level I am at is 99% about oneself: doing your best and living with your own choices. But for that other 1% I wish that we all had the same suit and therefore, honestly, I don't think paying $300 or $600 is a good thing.