Here is a question for the lawyers out there.
Do FINA regulations supersede US federal anti-sex discrimination laws?
Granted, I am not sure I know what the latter are. However, if I were to show up at a USMS swimming meet, wearing a perfectly legal women's swimming suit, one of the zipper-free kneeskin type models that also covered my ample boobage, and the officials rightly disqualified me for wearing this get-up because it is against the FINA/USMS agreed upon New Order, could I then turn around and sue under some federal statute prohibiting discrimination because gender?
In my mind, the new FINA rules are going to end up making swimming even more of a dying sport for boys in the US than the unintended consequences of Title IX, etc. Girls, especially in the younger age groups, can often beat boys in swimming, and in fact our own Mr. Qbrain got a top 10 time in the men's 30-34 LCM 1500 this summer. His wife, if I am remembering correctly, beat his time but failed to make the top 10 in the women's category.
If anything, it is we men who are now at a disadvantage. I say make the dystaff gender wear thongs and let us wear body suits fashioned to look like very streamlined tuxedos.
Suits for women now remain pretty much unchanged by the new FINA ruling, with the exception, that is, of getting rid of zippers and getting rid of non textiles. But that means women can continue to swim in what are still arguably very fast suits--FS1's, for example, that are very close to the short john types that helped loads of people get their best times. Men are prohibited from wearing anything but jammers.
Chicks, in other words, get 2004 technology; guys are back to the 60s. Why not let us go back to the 20s instead, when Johnny Weismuller wore a full body suit, albeit of wool?
So, in the spirit of Larry David, who recently concluded an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm with the line, "I'm Larry David, and I am comfortable in women's underwear"--I propose that any men who want to join me in the latest civil rights battle of our time show up at nationals this summer in women's suits and accompanied by our class action lawyer, and join me in echoing in a collective voice that rings out in natatoriums all across the fruited plain:
"I am a male USMS swimmer, and I am comfortable wearing women's suits."
Provided I can find an esquire who will agree to take the case on a contingency basis, I say this to the USMS sexist powers that be:
See you in court! Suckers!
Parents
Former Member
Wow! What a small world! You must come to the Auburn meet in mid-February in the next couple of years so that we can exchange Griffin stories. Did you know that they are hosting 2011 LC Nationals?
Don't know if you know Bob Bugg, but he still lives in Griffin. He is a USMS record holder in the 50-54 age-group. He trains with some team nearby. I think he swam for the Tallman Pools team as well. He might be able to steer you to a local masters coach.
Where are you training right now?
Bob Bugg... that name sure rings a bell. But he would have been about 10 years older than me, so back in age-group days that would have been a completely different world. I only remember a few of the older guys like Steve L. and Ronnie Sharp (a stocky redhead with a wicked butterfly).
Right now I'm training at my gym, since I already pay the fees there. I've re-arranged my work schedule so I do 2 split 4-hour shifts with a 2.5hr gap at mid-day, which is when I swim (or work out).
For the time being I'm just focused on getting conditioned for swimming. Once I feel like I've got my pool-muscles trained, I might look around for coaching possibilities. But it depends on cost, distance, and whether I can find an organization that seems to be in sync with my goals.
Wow! What a small world! You must come to the Auburn meet in mid-February in the next couple of years so that we can exchange Griffin stories. Did you know that they are hosting 2011 LC Nationals?
Don't know if you know Bob Bugg, but he still lives in Griffin. He is a USMS record holder in the 50-54 age-group. He trains with some team nearby. I think he swam for the Tallman Pools team as well. He might be able to steer you to a local masters coach.
Where are you training right now?
Bob Bugg... that name sure rings a bell. But he would have been about 10 years older than me, so back in age-group days that would have been a completely different world. I only remember a few of the older guys like Steve L. and Ronnie Sharp (a stocky redhead with a wicked butterfly).
Right now I'm training at my gym, since I already pay the fees there. I've re-arranged my work schedule so I do 2 split 4-hour shifts with a 2.5hr gap at mid-day, which is when I swim (or work out).
For the time being I'm just focused on getting conditioned for swimming. Once I feel like I've got my pool-muscles trained, I might look around for coaching possibilities. But it depends on cost, distance, and whether I can find an organization that seems to be in sync with my goals.
