Fina final decision on tech suits for masters

this past weekend our our junior districts (20 and younger) the meet director decided to only look at the size and look of the suits. she was not about to feel up all the swimmer to see what material the suits were made of. it felt like a 80/90's's reunion meet. lots of guys in briefs, and girls in suits with no leg coverage. Only one swimmer had a jammer with the 2010 fina approved logo.

They will be going for records. I hope they're prepared for the times recorded in these suits to not count for Fina records or top ten. I don't see how Fina can do anything other than not accept times done at meets sanctioned by organizations that don't comply with the new suit rules.

Or break them out for the Republic of Texas World Championships, where the tech suits are still legal on day 2. www.clubassistant.com/.../meet.cfm This meet is going to be really fun! Look at the swimmers we have coming in for the swim clinic - they will be around for the meet as well! I can't wait to see those 2 swimmers of WSJ fame duke it out.... Saturday is the traditional swim meet - it will count for top ten swims and current swimsuit rules will apply. Sunday is the BlueSeventy shootout - a pentathlon with a 100 IM that will be in some order other than the traditional 100 IM order. By tech suits, that means you can wear any and as many as you want. The strategy is up to you. And you can set a SCY WORLD record!!! So enter the meet, bring all your tech suits and new suits, and grab a friend or 2 and come on to DALLAS!! A big round of applause to Bobby Patten, who is the only person in NT who hosts and is meet director of every meet held in NT, except the occasional zone meet. It was a direct In Your Face to Fina and let's-poke-fun at the tech suit controversy. He says he wants me to stack no less than 3 suits. I may have to try that out a few times in practice! On swimming without a tech suit, i've done 5 meets without them, and i've lived. Went 24.40 and 1:00.87 100 fly in prelim swims only, so the tech suit....really a non-issue. There are many, many other factors that can easily make up the difference (real or perceived) for a masters swimmer.

Jim, This past weekend I tried my FS-PRO jammers for the first time in a meet and the results stunned me. I noticed a HUGE difference in my breaststroke. Starts and turns were faster and longer (almost reached the 15m mark actually) and I felt a lot less fatigue in my legs. Didn't feel any diffference in my glide. Overall, I managed to drop 7.5 secs on my 200m breaststroke -- and while I'm sure anaerobic training and stroke changes certainly made the most difference, the FS-PROs did quite a nice job. Please note that I never used a full body suit -- or leggings for that matter --, so results may vary. Cheers. Very interesting. If this advantage proves more than just idiosyncratic, I think the handicappers at FINA are going to have to take a close look at it. My prediction: eventually, anything giving any advantage whatsoever to any swimmer will have to be eliminated for the sake of fairness. Then the long prophesied Golden Age of Totally Nude Swimming Competitions will finally be here. Priapismic lap dancing consorters like Michael Phelps might find he no longer is quite so streamlined as he once was. Meanwhile, older, unendowed, Viagra-shunning masters, especially when swimming in frigid waters, might find we own the pool, so to speak. I can't wait.

As far as "fast" jammers go, it's hard to imagine anything with that little coverage is likely to make much difference, and I am not inclined to give the swimming equipment industry any more than minimal dollars. Jim, This past weekend I tried my FS-PRO jammers for the first time in a meet and the results stunned me. I noticed a HUGE difference in my breaststroke. Starts and turns were faster and longer (almost reached the 15m mark actually) and I felt a lot less fatigue in my legs. I didn't, however, feel any difference in my glide whilst actually swimming. Still, I reckon that I probably did glide farther than usual. Overall, I managed to drop 7.5 secs on my 200m breaststroke -- and while I'm sure anaerobic training and stroke changes certainly made the most difference, the FS-PROs did quite a nice job. Please note that I never used a full body suit -- or leggings for that matter --, so results may vary. Cheers.

You guys are going to be disadvantaged! The British masters swimmers have been given the 'all clear' to carry on wearing their suits. Already, swimmers from other countries who have aged up this year are applying to swim in meets in the UK. They will be going for records. I'm really surprised that you didn't tell FINA to go to hell, just as masters federations on the continent have done. Surely you don't think your masters swimmers are going to be a threat to Michael Phelps's world records if they wear a bodysuit?

On swimming without a tech suit, i've done 5 meets without them, and i've lived. Went 24.40 and 1:00.87 100 fly in prelim swims only, so the tech suit....really a non-issue. There are many, many other factors that can easily make up the difference (real or perceived) for a masters swimmer. I've lived as well. However, try doing some bigger line ups with middle distance and distance events in your non-tech suit and let me know your thoughts on this "non-issue."

My prediction: eventually, anything giving any advantage whatsoever to any swimmer will have to be eliminated for the sake of fairness. OK Jim, stick by your word and refuse to wear goggles in future!

I've lived as well. However, try doing some bigger line ups with middle distance and distance events in your non-tech suit and let me know your thoughts on this "non-issue." 24.40 and 1:00.87.

OK Jim, stick by your word and refuse to wear goggles in future! Well, young whipper snapper! I grew up before goggles were invented! Nobody in my high school or at the University of Michigan ever used goggles when I swam there. I am used to seeing rainbows for the rest of the night after swimming practice. Getting rid of goggles is a great idea. The muscle memory of my peeled corneas will kick in, giving me an advantage of the modern cheaters who have never had to swim without eyeball coddling!